On 01 April 2024, Vitaliy Klitschko, Chair of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, Mayor of Kyiv, presented the Concept of Recovery of Local Self-Government of Ukraine approved by the Board of the Association of Ukrainian Cities.

«It has been 10 years since the launch of the decentralisation reform, and we, the Association of Ukrainian Cities, jointly with international partners, propose the next step to continue the development of democracy – the Concept of Recovery of Local Self-Government in Ukraine», said Vitaliy Klitschko.

The Concept for Recovery of Local Self-Government in Ukraine simultaneously defines tasks in two areas:

- creating decent conditions for residents in every municipality in all spheres of life;

- forming a democratic system of good governance at all levels.

The Concept sets out the requirements for creating decent conditions for residents in the following areas:

1.1. education and culture,

1.2. health and social services,

1.3. urban planning and infrastructure,

1.4. housing and utilities,

1.5. regional development,

1.6. security.

Creating an effective participatory system of good governance at the local level involves the following tasks as defined in the Concept:

2.1. scope and powers of local self-government,

2.2. accountability and controllability of municipal authorities,

2.3. democracy at the local level,

2.4. ensuring quality consultations,

2.5. inter-municipal cooperation,

2.6. local economic development.

Two stages of implementation of the Concept and reform are envisaged:

- the first stage – during martial law, before the Victory of Ukraine;

- the second stage – within ten years after the Victory.

The second stage of the Concept implementation envisages specific actions in the following order:

1. abandonment of military administrations as soon as possible, local elections;

2. institutional and financial support for the independent operation of local governments;

3. reconstruction of local public infrastructure;

4. capacity of all municipalities to provide residents with quality and accessible services;

5. creating conditions for full-fledged democratic local self-government.

The Concept defines 19 specific indicators (criteria) of impact and result, based on the Recommendations of the OECD on improving the system of measuring the performance of municipalities in Ukraine, which will form a comprehensive framework for monitoring and evaluating future changes.

The Concept for Recovery of Local Self-Government in Ukraine incorporates the proposals of:

- Professor Georg Milbradt, Special Envoy of the German Government for Decentralisation, Good Governance and Public Service;

- Nikolaus-Komninos Hlepas, Vice-Chairman of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe;

- Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR);

- voiced at the meeting of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine of the European Committee of the Regions on 08.12.2023.

For the Ukrainian version of the article, please visit link.