Everything that is being built or changed should have a plan, a landmark for further movement. Otherwise, the result is difficult to predict. The hromadas that find themselves in unusual, new conditions of the reform must also have such a leading mark. Therefore, the sooner the oblast leadership has a perspective plant for the formation of hromadas, covering the entire territory of the region, the sooner it will make decisions locally, said Vyacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, on the air of the “Pershyi Zahidnyi” TV channel.

“The perspective plans are necessary, because they are based on clear economic, territorial, demographic and other calculations, not political interests. They offer an amalgamation format, where hromadas are the most capable and efficient, able to develop. However, a perspective plan is not a dogma. No need to fear that it will have to be changed if in the course of voluntary amalgamation hromadas’ configurations differ. Plans are changing, become adjusted, and it's normal. But there should be no white spots in these plans, otherwise it's not a plan,” said Vyacheslav Nehoda.

In his opinion, the oblasts not having a complete perspective plan, do not have a complete picture of the future of their territories.

“I am convinced that in terms of formation of capable hromadas we can and should move faster in order to complete the transfer of powers to the basic level by 2020, and to come to local elections on a new territorial basis, with new hromadas. To do this, the perspective plans should finally cover the whole territory of the country. Another question is whether it will be possible to achieve this plan by 100% or not. Anyway, we will not succeed in making all hromadas equally wealthy. It doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. Everywhere more prosperous help the weaker. However, it is real to create much better living standards for people in each hromada. And hromadas should see what is the best way to do this,” said the First Deputy Minister.