Ukrainian delegation headed by Viacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister for regional development, building and housing of Ukraine, took part at the 6th meeting of the European Committee of the Regions’ Task Force on Ukraine in Brussels.

The participants of the meeting reviewed the results achieved within the framework of peer-to-peer cooperation which is exercised with the support of the European Commission’s “U-LEAD with Europe” programme.

Peer-to-peer initiatives are bilateral projects between the EU and Ukrainian local authorities through which Estonian, German, Hungarian, Lithuanian and Polish communities share their experience in areas identified as priorities by their Ukrainian partners - drawing up economic development plans, supporting rural areas, helping small and medium-sized enterprises, boosting tourism and increasing transparency.

Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi underscored:‪ decentralization is the basis for reforms. It has positive results and constantly growing support among Ukrainian people. It’s our choice because we realize that without reforms in the regions it is impossible to build a strong and successful state.‬

Decentralization reform is a big reform success that is moving Ukraine forward and changing the country. This reform is advancing quickly and very substantially, - noted head of European Commission Support Group for Ukraine Peter Wagner.

The participants discussed current political situation in Ukraine, a new stage of decentralization and local self-government reform and also set further priorities of the EU-Ukraine relations with the view to broaden prospects for cooperation at the local and regional levels.