Ensuring the stability of communities and local self-government in general and during wartime, and preparing for European integration are the key topics of public consultations on decentralisation, which have been taking place since August 2025 on the initiative of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and with the support of the Council of Europe.

On 2 October, the final regional consultation on ‘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’ took place in Lviv.

The event brought together over 140 representatives of local governments and their associations, executive authorities, civil society, scientific and expert communities from Volyn, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi regions.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Andrii Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv, and Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, who joined online.

During the event, a draft of the ‘Specifics of the Concept Implementation’ was presented, which clarifies the mechanisms for implementing the decentralisation reform in light of new security, socio-economic and institutional challenges. The following key tasks were identified:

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

Oleksii Riabykin emphasised, ‘The 2014 Concept is a framework document and long-term guideline. The war has changed the conditions, but not the goals. Currently undergoing public consultation, the Concept outlines the transition from intentions to decisions. The task remains the same: capable communities, transparent decisions and measurable results for people – despite the war and in view of the course towards the EU.’

 

 

Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, noted, ‘These open discussions are an extremely important step because the Concept of Decentralisation concerns not only the state, but all levels of governance and citizens too. The broader the support and consensus, the more effective its implementation will be. Once the consultations are complete, swift and ambitious adoption should follow, along with the preparation of a clear action plan for implementation. Decentralisation must become an integral part of democratic life in Ukraine, as it has already proven its value and resilience during the war. The Congress will continue to support Ukraine in the next stages of this important reform.’

 

 

Andrii Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv, remarked, ‘Local self-government is the foundation of our state. Despite the war, we must take the next steps in its development by transferring more resources and powers to communities, particularly with regard to the administration of local taxes. The strong voice of local self-government must be heard alongside the voice of the state, and it is only through constructive discussion that the decisions this country needs can be made.’

 

 

Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Local Governments ‘Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils,’ Head of the Kharkiv Regional Council, emphasised, ‘I believe that representatives of associations and local governments should not only be involved, but also actively engaged in all processes related to the completion of the decentralisation reform. The discussion must be constructive. There should be no room for political or personal ambition — only responsibility to the people who elected us, and a commitment to achieving results through collaboration. The Concept we are discussing today is challenging because of the ongoing war, but it is well written with clear messages. We have our own proposals and hope they will be taken into account.’

 

 

Regional discussions are an important step in finalising updated approaches to continuing decentralisation reform, as well as in aligning legislative changes with European standards, which remains one of the Government’s priorities.

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As previously reported, the draft was published on 26 August 2025, and regional consultations were held in Odesa and Poltava in September. The final meeting is scheduled to take place in Kyiv in October. To participate, please follow the announcements on our website.

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.