The Verkhovna Rada Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning held a round-table discussion ‘Principles of the delineation of powers between different levels of public authority in Ukraine’.

During the event, the practical risks and challenges related to the adoption and implementation of the Draft Law of Ukraine ‘On the Principles of Delineation and Distribution of Powers between Levels of Public Authority’ (Reg. No. 14412) were discussed, and the developments related to the next stage of the reform dedicated to delineating spheres of competence between levels of public authority were presented.

The roundtable brought together Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, ministries, all-Ukrainian associations of local governments, representatives of civil society, and other stakeholders.

The event was organised in cooperation with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe and the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

 

 

Oleksandr Kornienko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, noted that the adoption of Draft Law No. 14412 at first reading became possible thanks to a consensus between the central government and the regions. However, he added that during preparations for the second reading, the main difficulties arise not so much between the central government and local self-government, but rather between different sectors of authority within the central government itself. He emphasised the necessity to quickly resolve a large number of substantive issues and find compromise solutions so that, ultimately, the system of authority works for the people and citizens receive quality services irrespective of their place of residence.

 

 

Olena Shuliak, Chair of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, reported that 1,791 amendments had been submitted to the Draft Law, which demonstrates the high level of complexity involved and the need for further detailed revision. She also emphasised that the Draft Law is an indicator within the Ukraine Facility, and therefore its finalisation is also important for the fulfilment of Ukraine’s international obligations.

 

 

Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, emphasised that the current debate is a logical continuation of the reform launched in 2014. He noted that Draft Law No. 14412 is a framework document that establishes the general principles for the delineation and distribution of powers between public authorities. Meanwhile, the next stage should be the sectoral delineation of powers. According to him, the European Commission has given a positive assessment of the general direction of this work, but has specifically emphasised that the fulfilment of the relevant indicator lies precisely in the sectoral delineation of powers. Oleksii Riabykin also stated that the deadline for this stage could be extended to the first quarter of 2027, which would allow for a more thorough approach to the changes. He noted, however, that this is a very large-scale task that will require amendments to over 300 codes and laws.

 

 

Sören Herbst, Head of the Multi-Level Governance Support Unit at U-LEAD with Europe, highlighted the fundamental principles on which future work should be based. He emphasised that this primarily concerns adherence to the principle of subsidiarity, a clear delineation of powers between levels of public authority without duplication of functions, as well as adequate resource provision to enable communities to carry out both their own and delegated powers.

 

 

Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, emphasised in her speech that such reforms are important not only in the context of Ukraine’s European integration, but also for strengthening democracy and the delineation of powers. She stressed that the delineation of powers is always a complex process, and therefore consultation, the involvement of different parties, and the search for solutions based on dialogue are particularly important. According to her, the Council of Europe remains ready to support this process through its expertise, as well as through mediation formats that may be useful in reaching agreed solutions.

The participants in the roundtable agreed that the preparation of Draft Law No. 14412 for its second reading and the subsequent delineation of areas of competence between levels of public authority are interlinked stages of a single reform. It is the quality of these decisions that will determine how clearly the responsibilities of the various levels of authority are defined and how effectively the public administration system can meet the needs of citizens.