The First Vice Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the Conference on Democratic Governance
30 June 2023, 13:34
"Decentralisation is such a fundamental reform that regardless of the change of power and political context, it is still moving forward," said the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko during the opening of the Democratic Governance Conference.
The participants of the event, in particular, discussed the findings of the eighth All-Ukrainian Municipal Survey by the International Republican Institute (IRI Ukraine).
According to the survey, the overwhelming majority of the population believes in a better future, positively assesses the quality of services provided by local authorities, and plans to stay in their cities during the war and after its end. At the same time, in 18 of the 21 settlements where the survey was conducted, between 50% and 82% of respondents believe that their city is moving in the right direction.
"These two facts alone confirm that the reform is really moving forward and will continue to do so," said Oleksandr Korniienko.
The First Vice-Speaker stressed that decentralisation has gained even more significance after Ukraine became a candidate for accession to the European Union, because "the process of European integration and accession is also taking place at the level of infrastructure projects to be implemented in communities."
He also noted that it is important to improve the quality of life of Ukrainians, as "this is one of the theses voiced by our people when talking about returning home from abroad".
"Speaking of small communities (hromadas), we always note that the state will work to support and develop them, but at the same time, large hromadas should bear and feel their responsibility in this process," the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine concluded.
For reference. The event was organised with the participation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Republican Institute (IRI Ukraine).