Committee on state construction, regional policy and local government held "round table" in Poltava on implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On cooperation of territorial communities"

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
10 June 2016, 16:17

The event was organized jointly with the Poltava regional state administration, Poltava regional council and at the assistance and support of the Project "Management reform in the east of Ukraine", that is being implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH).

Committee Chairman Serhii Vlasenko, opening the "round table", said that, unfortunately, the Law of Ukraine "On cooperation of territorial communities” is not sufficiently attracted to local government officials. As of June 2016 the Ministry of regional development, construction and housing and communal services of Ukraine registered only 39 agreements on cooperation of territorial communities.

Meanwhile, the head of the Committee noted the achievements of Poltava region in establishing of cooperation mechanisms of territorial communities. According to him, in Poltava region there are recorded 17 cooperation agreements of territorial communities, which is almost half of all similar contracts in Ukraine. In this regard, the experience of Poltava region is invaluable for creating a positive experience and geographical expansion of the implementation of mechanisms of territorial communities’ cooperation, working out mechanisms of staff training and educational programs.

Summing up, the Chairman of the Committee said that the law "On cooperation of territorial communities" may be a ground for changing the mentality of local government officials in the work to address local issues by uniting efforts of neighboring territorial communities and optimizing their expenditures. According to him, within two last years in Ukraine there are successful examples of cooperation of local communities, which in modern conditions is  invaluable asset, and the main task for the future for all of the authorities is popularization of  these examples.

During the "round table" the report was submitted on the implementation of the law, prepared by the sub-committee on regional policy, local budgets and communal property of the Committee headed by chairman of the subcommittee, people’s deputy of Ukraine Andrii Reka in cooperation with the project "Reform in the east of Ukraine."

In addition, the "round table" participants discussed the institutional and resource support of development of cooperation of territorial communities, experience of training of officials of state power and local governments. Also there were presented results of implementation of cooperation projects of territorial communities in Poltava region.

The Committee Chairman also thanked the project "Reform in the east of Ukraine" for assistance in promoting of cooperation mechanisms of territorial communities and financial support for the implementation of relevant agreements.