Volodymyr Groysman highly appreciates initiative of the EU Committee of Regions to establish a working group on supporting the decentralization reform in Ukraine
24 February 2015 14:47
Ukraine has to walk a serious way of reforms. Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman stressed this during the meeting with the newly elected President of the EU Committee of Regions Markku Markkula in Brussels.
Volodymyr Groysman stressed that the programme of reforms is quite wide-ranging, however, it should be implemented during this year.
Particularly, Chairperson of the Parliament reminded that it is necessary to complete the constitutional reform in the part of local self-government, as early as September 2015. “Whatever posts I occupied, I was the supporter of local self-government and decentralization,” said Volodymyr Groysman.
The Parties discussed importance of decentralization reform in Ukraine in line with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. It also went about the necessity of providing assistance of European experts in the issue of regional policy formation.
In this context, Mr. Markku Markkula informed that the EU Committee of Regions has established a working group on supporting decentralization in Ukraine that consists of seven persons.
Volodymyr Groysman highly appreciated this initiative and suggested focusing efforts of the working group on three basic directions: European experience of decentralization and development of territorial communities; European experience of regional development, particularly, strategic planning; and what is important – recovery of post-industrial and post-conflict regions.
The Parties were unanimous in saying that joint work of this group with the Ukrainian Party should be quite dynamic in view of the necessity of prompt reforms. “The chance that we have today cannot be wasted,” stressed Volodymyr Groysman.
The Parties believe that “this work is of mutual interest” and the working group could increase its presence in Ukraine by holding events in the regions, i.e. conferences, workshops, or debates. Volodymyr Groysman and Markku Markkula believe that this will make the planned reforms clear to the communities.
Volodymyr Groysman confirmed interest of the Ukrainian Party in broadening the dialogue with the EU Committee of Regions.
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