Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Groysman in his opening speech said that associations of local self-government should obtain completely new capacity. He reminded that for several years associations of local self-government, local communities had been used to "cover one or another tasks." "At particular period of time they gathered us, they talked to us, gave us promises, and then showed their backs and made even worse. Today is the time when we can say that 2015 is coming to an end, we have been working over strengthening of the positions of local self-government, over decentralization of power, restoration of budget justice, de-usurpation of power and return of authorities to the local level. This all is doing the hard way. This is a question of serious fight of the old system, which has its roots with new approaches."
Groysman called positive the fact that at present the President of Ukraine, the Prime Minister, the government support decentralization and local self-government reform, which allows to join efforts for introduction of effective solutions.
Verkhovna Rada Chairperson drew attention to a draft law on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine in the part of decentralization of power, which provides for fixation at the constitutional level of expanded rights of local self-government bodies.
Groysman pointed to the need to unite all political forces over adoption of this draft law. "The fight for efficient local self-government has only commenced - generally speaking, this is a government, which is the closest to the people and has appropriate level of trust," he said.
Verkhovna Rada Chairperson further said that "we have a lot of tasks for the future, for tomorrow, for next year, and in the medium term, and these tasks is that we have to further build up a mechanism for increasing the efficiency of local self-government."
He stressed: "Not only to support today cities of regional importance, but also to create full-fledged local self-government at the level of districts and regions." According to his words, to fulfill this task they have elaborated quite efficient and up-to-date amendments to the Constitution, which provide for fundamental principles - a principle of ubiquity of local self-government, that is extension of jurisdiction; this is reservation of part of the national taxes for local self-government at the level of constitutional provisions; this is adequateness of the authorities to the sources of income. This all are the questions that should be agreed every day."
Groysman believes that on the path of local self-government reform, and implementation of power decentralization association of local self-government bodies and other associations should be strengthened in their opportunities, should play a key expert role, and should define objectives and priorities for the government. He expressed his readiness to be a full partner toward this.
"Our strategic task is to transform each community in Ukraine into a self-sufficient community, which will have a complete set of tools to provide high-quality services to people in all spheres," Groysman said.
Addressing the participants of the meeting, he stressed that without them, without their participation, and persistence nothing will work. "That is why it is very important that you become the driving force of the necessary changes. And I sincerely hope that your position will not only fill the place in local self-government bodies, but also will fight to the approval of proper decisions at all levels and help the central government to make changes today for your work to be more efficient,” Groysman said and called on the present to be united, to interact and cooperate.
Members of the Association of Ukrainian Cities’ board also examined a question of legislative support to the activity of local communities. The meeting participants supported and addressed the Parliament with a request to as soon as possible approve the following draft laws: on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on peculiarities of state registration of local self-government bodies as legal entities No.3106; on amendments to Chapter II "Final and Transitional Provisions" of the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine concerning delimitation of lands in state and municipal ownership" concerning delimitation of lands on the territories of unified territorial communities No.3510; on municipal guard No.2890.
At the meeting they also discussed possible losses of local budgets next year in case of approval of the government’s draft law in the proposed wording.
Members of the Association of Ukrainian Cities’ board also discussed some organizational issues of their activity.