Today, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine has a Chamber of Regions and a Chamber of Local Authorities. In the future, there are plans to create another chamber or some kind of institution within this body, which would include not only Ukrainian hromadas (communities), but also partners from Poland and Lithuania, as it is easier to compete for European funds together.
This was stated by Vitalii Bezhin, the MP, member of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning.
“By working together with the leadership of the Office of the President and the Congress, we will be able to create a multinational platform at the local government level, which will include Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. Together we will compete for European funds and implement projects to counter russian aggression in an economically cohesive manner. I think we will have great news on this in April-May, in particular thanks to communication, including representatives of not only local but also central authorities with our colleagues from Lithuania and Poland,” the MP said.
According to him, this platform of interaction will also allow, on the one hand, to advocate Ukraine's interests in Brussels and Strasbourg, and on the other hand, to attract European investors to our country, first of all to the conditionally safe territories of Western Ukraine.
The MP added that the parliament plays an important role in establishing relations, as it is a kind of guide.
“In April-May, we are planning a meeting with the new head of the Polish Sejm committee responsible for local self-government. A similar meeting will be held with our Lithuanian partners in April to moderate this story (creation of a multistate platform - ed.). We have to consolidate the efforts of the President's Office, the parliament and the government, which means diplomacy at all levels, and the parliament is mostly a guide, because we understand that we cannot negate the activities of local self-government bodies,” the politician stressed.