The participants in the roundtable were Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Groysman, representatives of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and international organizations interested in watching the course of local self-government reforms in Ukraine.
In his opening speech, the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada noted that the local self-government reform is one of the key reforms for Ukraine. "It envisions creation of algorithms of unification of communities able to provide people with high-quality services. I'd like to appreciate the determination of every leader of a local community, who decided to get elected," he said. He also expressed confidence that the Ukrainian Parliament does and will take care of the territorial communities.
According to Vice Prime Minister / Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing Public Utility Economy Hennadii Zubko, thanks to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the state budget for 2016 will allow supporting the unified territorial communities and holding of the decentralization of power.
Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office, Coordinator of the topic-based workgroup of donors for decentralization, local self-government, regional development and municipal services Holger Tausch noted that many international organizations do cooperate during the implementation of ambitious projects in Ukraine. He said that their key partner in Ukraine is the Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Public Utility Economy Ministry. He also noted that the decentralization of power reform is one of the key reforms in terms of establishment of democratic framework in Ukraine. He stressed that Ukraine should adopt the law on administrative-territorial structure, and legitimate the decentralization through respective amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine.
He also said that the issue of decentralization requires consolidation and constructive approach.
Deputy Chairperson of the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Martynenko said that the Ukrainian Parliament is not only creating a legal framework for local self-government, but also ensures close cooperation with the elites of territorial communities.