On Monday 28 January, The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatseniuk, held a Working Meeting with Senior Officers of Local Governments .
In his introductory speech, The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine outlined the problems of Local Self-government which should be resolved, and called for Local Governments to become involved in the elaboration on Amendments to The Constitution of Ukraine, and the Law on The State Budget for the current year.
A.Yatseniuk noted that each year, prior to adoption of the Budget, a discussion arises on the need for decentralization and transferral of financial resources to the Local bodies. However, 'with each new adoption of the Law on the State Budget, the opposite processes start unfolding'.
'The trouble lies in the absence of a clear-cut integral approach to the question of how Local Governments should operate, and what reforms are required', said The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
In this context, A. Yatseniuk called for an open and transparent procedure for making amendments to The State Budget 2008. He also invited Delegates from Local Governments to take part in discussions on the State Programme of Socio-economic Development.
Speaking of the amendments to The Constitution, he reminded the audience that The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, has set up a National Constitutional Council and said that Local Governments should not stand aside. 27 Bills have been registered in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Amendments to Local Government Legislation. 'Once again we are producing umpteen Acts without any system, just to demonstrate that the process is underway. The key issue is which route has this process taken´, stressed The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
A. Yatseniuk invited the Delegates to discuss the matter of the reform of Housing and Utility Services , and in particular the setting of tariffs for these and also Energy resources. He also asked for their opinion of the Law on Public Procurements, introduced by The President of Ukraine and endorsed by the relevant Committee.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also invited the Delegates to discuss the approaches to the concept of Administrative Reform.