On 19 September 2025, one more regional consultation on the draft ‘Specifics of Implementing the Concept of Reforming Local Self-Government and Territorial Organisation of Power in Ukraine in the Context of Military Challenges and Preparations for Ukraine’s Accession to the European Union’ was held in Poltava. The event focused on new approaches to decentralisation and the development of local self-government, considering current security, social and economic conditions, as well as the EU integration process.

More than 200 representatives of local governments at all levels, their all-Ukrainian associations, local executive authorities, civil society, scientific and expert communities of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Luhansk, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions attended the consultation.

Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and Volodymyr Kohut, Acting Head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration, delivered welcoming speeches.

‘Today, our main task is to adapt the decentralisation reform to the new realities that the country is facing. We are updating the legislative framework, strengthening the institutional capacity of local authorities, and restoring the ability of local governments to function fully after de-occupation. At the same time, we are preparing communities to work according to European standards, equipping them to implement their own development strategies, attract investment and provide quality services to citizens. Decentralisation remains the foundation for the country’s recovery and the creation of conditions for sustainable growth,’ said OleksiiRiabykin.

Claudia Luciani emphasised, ‘Decentralisation is key for democracy. And Ukraine’s decentralisation reform is a great example of local authorities serving the people while withstanding the unprecedented consequences of the ongoing war. The whole world has witnessed this since 2022. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will provide further support to Ukraine in the shaping of this reform and the drawing up of a specific action plan to make it happen.’

In his speech, Volodymyr Kohut highlighted the importance of decentralisation and development of communities:

‘Every community has gained more rights and opportunities, and we must remember that strong communities are the foundation of a civilised world.’ He also emphasised the importance of forming a personnel reserve and managing resources effectively.

Mykola Rubchak, Director of the Multi-Level Governance Department at the Ministry for Development, presented the Draft Specifics of the Concept Implementation. He noted that, since 24 February 2022, communities have faced new challenges, including temporary occupation, the need to reintegrate territories, the destruction of infrastructure, migration of the population, environmental hazards, economic decline and the loss of transit potential. In these circumstances, the document proposes updated approaches to the following:

• improving the territorial basis of governance;
• enhancing the institutional and financial capacity of public authorities;
• delineating powers with adequate provision of resources;
• strengthening the influence of residents on local and regional policy;
• enhancing the effective delivery of services at local level;
• rebuilding based on the ‘build back better’ principle;
• preparing local self-government for its work within the EU legal framework and its participation in European programmes.

The participants, including representatives of the All-Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils (UAROC), the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC), the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities (AAATC) and the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities (VAG), shared their ideas on how to improve the draft document.

In particular, Mykola Riznyk, Head of the VAG Poltava Regional Branch and Mayor of Opishnia, emphasised the importance of such discussions, given that the state is willing to hear different points of view.

‘This concept is our mini-Constitution,’ he said, adding that the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities supports the document. He believes that the updated approach to delineating powers, as set out in the draft, must be backed up by adequate funding and that any further changes must be made transparently.

Representatives of the UAROC and the AAATC voiced a similar stance, expressing their support for the proposed draft. Meanwhile, the AUC emphasised the need to prepare a new Concept of Reform to replace the 2014 document.

Public consultations will continue. The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine plans to finalise the text, taking into account the results of discussions, including those held during a series of regional meetings. Comments and suggestions to the Draft can be submitted until 24 September 2025 by emailing mlg33minhromad@gmail.com.

The first regional consultation, which covered five regions, took place in Odesa on 12 September: Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson.

Regional consultations are organised by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine with the support of the Council of Europe within the project ‘Strengthening Multilevel Governance And Local Democracy To Support Ukraine’s Recovery’, implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine ‘Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction’ for 2023–2026.