Opening the round table discussion, Committee Chairman Oleksandr Omelchenko underscored importance of the local referenda and their legislative regulation for
further democratization of the authorities and society in Ukraine.
The participants of the discussion stated that a local referendum is an essential institute of direct democracy that allows the citizens of Ukraine residing in a respective administrative and territorial unit to realize their right for the local decision-making. Clauses 38, 69 and 70 of the Constitution of Ukraine consolidate the citizens´ right to take part in a local referendum. However, the speakers admitted that realization of this constitutional right lacks due legislative regulation.
The bill on the local referendum (Reg. No. 7082), submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, was presented at the meeting. The bill defines the term ‘a local self-government´, specifying its types and principles of public participation in the referendum.
The participants believe that adoption and implementation of the bill will bear positive results for the development of administrative and territorial units, raise public awareness, involve the citizens into the local self-government, and support development of a full-fledged local self-government in Ukraine.