The Ukrainian Association of Rayon and Oblast Councils stresses the need for the soonest possible adoption of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine in terms of decentralisation of power, as stated in the Association’s address to the first persons of the state.

“The Ukrainian Association of Rayon and Oblast Councils once again declares that it fully supports the reforms, initiated in Ukraine in 2014, aimed at decentralisation of power, transfer of powers from executive authorities to local self-government according to the principle of subsidiarity. At the same time, we emphasise and insist on the need to accelerate implementation of the local self-government reform so that local elections-2020 take place on a new territorial basis of hromadas and rayons, so that local self-government bodies receive new powers and commensurable material and financial resources to ensure effective development of hromadas and regions, as well as quality service delivery to citizens. In order to ensure the irreversibility of the initiated changes, enshrine them at the level of the Constitution of Ukraine, we urge the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to join efforts to achieve these objectives,” the document reads.

Commenting on the statement, Serhii Chernov, President of the Association, said that the Parliament of this convocation has not so much time to make amendments to the Principal Law in terms of decentralisation. He called on parliamentarians to start considering the draft law No. 2217 already since 15 January, from the very beginning of the next plenary week.

“What else should we wait for? The reform is effective, its results show that the right path was chosen to build strong hromadas, and hence a strong country. Who or what can guarantee that over time these positive changes will not be taken from hromadas? Only relevant changes to the Constitution of Ukraine. There is a draft law, adopted in the first reading, so a further way should be made for it, or a new draft law on amendments to the Principal Law in terms of decentralisation should be introduced. But this should be done, for example, already starting from 15 January, when deputies will work in the session hall. We have high expectations that this Verkhovna Rada will make a historic decision,” said Serhii Chernov.