The Committee on State Administration held the annual Bucha Forum «Reforms. Decentralisation. European Integration»
02 December 2025, 10:24
On 1 December 2025, the traditional annual Bucha Forum «Reforms. Decentralisation. European Integration.» was held in Bucha, Kyiv Region. It was organised by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional Development and Urban Planning.
The Forum participants discussed in detail the national vision of decentralisation reform in the context of European integration, the priorities of the legislative agenda in the field of decentralisation, successful practices of international projects for sustainable development of communities and regions, and legislative support for the division of powers between local self-government bodies and executive authorities based on the principle of subsidiarity.
First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko noted in his welcoming speech: «Only strong regions and effective interaction between the central government and local self-government will ensure the future of the entire country, both politically and in terms of security. We continue to work actively on the implementation of decentralisation reform: the introduction of oversight, legislative work, financial decentralisation and tax administration.»
The Committee Chair Olena Shuliak emphasised «European legislation will have a very broad impact on Ukrainian communities: from agricultural development to ecology and procurement. It is no coincidence that 70% of EU regulations are ultimately implemented at the local level. After all, it is communities that will be the first to feel the impact of new environmental standards, production modernisation and changes in employment policies.»
«The Third Bucha Forum brought together central and local authorities in a community that has become a symbol of successful decentralisation and, at the same time, has experienced the most painful events of the Russian-Ukrainian war. This year, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a number of key decisions to support local self-government and is preparing important legislative initiatives that will strengthen the capacity of communities. The Forum once again confirms its necessity as a space for honest and constructive dialogue that contributes to the strengthening of local democracy and community development,» emphasised Vitalii Bezghin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative-Territorial Structure and Local Self-Government of the Committee.
«The division of powers between local self-government bodies and executive authorities is a key element in completing the decentralisation reform. A clear and transparent system of competences will enable communities to make decisions quickly and implement their own development strategies effectively. Our task in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is to ensure a legislative framework that will guarantee balance, accountability and effectiveness at every level of government,» said Oleksandr Aliksiichuk, Member of Parliament of Ukraine and Chair of the Subcommittee on Cooperation between Territorial Communities and Regions of the Committee.
During the Forum, the following were presented:
- the results of a survey of local government representatives on priority decentralisation bills, which will help to better identify local government needs for legislative changes;
- an experimental E-consultation Platform with local self-government bodies (COMS), which aims to establish effective consultations between the Committee, state authorities and local self-government bodies, primarily on issues related to decentralisation and the development of territorial communities;
- developing a framework for the division of powers between local government bodies at different levels and between local government bodies and central and local executive authorities based on the principle of subsidiarity.
The Forum was attended by members of the Ukrainian Parliament, representatives of state authorities, local self-government bodies and their leading associations, international and Ukrainian organisations, and the expert community.
The event was held with the assistance and support of the U-LEAD with Europe programme, the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE project – Decentralisation for Democratic Education, implemented with the support of Switzerland, the E-Governance for Accountability and Participation (EGAP) programme, implemented by the Eastern Europe Foundation, the Swiss-Ukrainian project UCORD - Cohesion and Regional Development of Ukraine, the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris programme - Support for Multi-Level Governance in Ukraine, the RELEVE Project, implemented by Expertise France, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and the public organisation DESPRO.