On 2 December, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko took part in a briefing on the further implementation of decentralisation reform and the strengthening of multi-level governance in Ukraine.
The event was attended by representatives of Parliament, the Government, local self-government bodies, the Council of Europe, foreign diplomatic missions, international organisations in Ukraine and all-Ukrainian associations of local self-government bodies.
The event was a continuation of the High-Level Dialogue «Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward in the Post-War Period» (in terms of multi-level governance).
The main topic of the briefing was the presentation of the Draft Specifics of Implementing the Concept of Reforming Local Self-Government and Territorial Organisation of Power in Ukraine. The discussion focused on further steps to implement the Concept and continue the decentralisation reform.
«Frankly speaking, the decentralisation reform has been successful not only thanks to internal processes and actions, but also thanks to the support of international partners. Together, we have managed to achieve high results, particularly in terms of efficiency. We continue to implement the necessary steps in a measured manner and in consensus with stakeholders and civil society, which will develop local self-government,» said First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko.
He called on international partners to contribute to strengthening local self-government in the regions, which is important for Ukraine's European integration. «We are grateful for the jointly implemented projects and hope that their number will only grow,» said Oleksandr Korniienko.
Separately, the First Deputy Speaker highlighted the issue of local government officials being held captive in russia and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with international partners to secure the return of all captives, including mayors and village heads.
The briefing was organised with the support and assistance of the Council of Europe as part of the project «Strengthening multi-level governance and local democracy to support Ukraine's recovery», which is being implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe's Action Plan for Ukraine «Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction» for 2023-2026.