Decentralisation is perhaps the most successful Ukrainian reform, but much more needs to be done, including the adoption of relevant legislation, said Georg Milbradt, special envoy of the German government for decentralisation, during an expanded governmental meeting, held today in Vinnytsia with the participation of President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, other high-ranking officials of Ukraine and representatives of the international community on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of decentralisation.

Berend de Groot, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, took part in a panel with Vice Prime Minister Hennadii Zubko and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Mr de Groot emphasised the importance of subsidiarity and transparency, calling upon the audience to do locally what can be done best locally and ensure participation and democratic oversight.

“Decentralisation reform offers the best opportunities to address root causes of corruption,” Berend de Groot underlined. “As the EU, and in my capacity as co-chair of the Donor Board on behalf of the international partners, we greatly acknowledge the achievements and potential of decentralisation in Ukraine. Separate and modest international support initiatives as done earlier this decade, have grown into a well-knit and jointly coordinated Government-led effort around the Common Results Framework”.

The governmental meeting in Vinnytsia was supported by Donor Board on decentralisation