On 7 February, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the First Forum of Poltava Region Village Heads.
The event took place in Mirgorod with the participation of members of the Ukrainian Parliament, the leadership of the Poltava Regional State Administration and the Poltava Regional Council, the Mayor of Mirgorod, experts on territorial development and local self-government, representatives of relevant public organisations, community support programme coordinators, and heads of territorial communities.
In his welcoming speech at the forum, Oleksandr Korniienko thanked the village heads for their daily work for the benefit of the communities, in particular for helping people and solving problems on the ground. He stressed that village heads are a key link in local self-government, and that the exchange of experience between village heads from different regions plays an important role in improving the effectiveness of their work.
‘On my initiative, regular meetings of regional governors were launched to discuss current issues and exchange experiences. Despite common challenges, each region has its own specifics and particular issues. Poltava region, as a frontline territory, faces numerous challenges,’ said the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
During his speech at the first panel discussion, "Resilience. Unity. Peace," Oleksandr Kornienko emphasised the key role of village heads in implementing decentralisation reform. He noted that cooperation between state authorities and the All-Ukrainian Association of Village Heads has been ongoing since 2020-2021, and the reform itself is recognised as one of the most successful both in Ukraine and among European partners. According to him, it is thanks to the work at the local level that communities have changed significantly over the last decade, gaining more powers and opportunities to manage their own resources.
The First Deputy Speaker emphasised that the principle of subsidiarity — the central government's trust in local decisions — remains the basis of state policy. He noted that the Verkhovna Rada and central government bodies will continue to transfer additional powers to communities, particularly in the area of land, property and other local taxes.
The First Deputy Speaker paid particular attention to the issue of fair distribution of personal income tax, particularly in cases where production facilities are located in communities but tax revenues are recorded in other cities. According to him, this issue needs to be resolved. Oleksandr Korniienko also stressed the need for closer cooperation between local authorities and tax authorities in the administration of local taxes and excise duties.
Speaking about the security situation, he noted that the issue of achieving a just peace is crucial, emphasising that Ukraine continues to resist the aggressor, strengthen its own defence production and maintain the support of international partners. According to the First Deputy Speaker, sanctions and political pressure on russia are increasing, and support from the United States and the European Union remains an important component of Ukraine's resilience.
In conclusion, the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada assured that Parliament would continue to adopt the necessary decisions to strengthen communities, enhance defence capabilities and bring about a just peace for Ukraine.