Land situated outside the inhabited localities should be transferred under control of consolidated territorial communities, and the Government is ready to submit the relevant bill into Parliament. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman announced while opening the Forum of Consolidated Communities on Thursday.

“It is crucial to complete the adoption of necessary laws to ensure the opportunities for your development [of united territorial communities]. It is vital to prevent politicians speculating on the issue of land administration. An authority to manage lands should be delegated to the consolidated communities”, urged Volodymyr Groysman.

The Government had submitted such a proposal, and Bill №4355 “On amendments to some legislative acts of Ukraine on extension of powers of local governments on land administration and strengthening control of use and protection of lands” was adopted in first reading in April 2016. During the preparation for the second reading they wanted to include in this bill “other rural councils”, stressed Volodymyr Groysman. The Prime Minister considers “it cheap populism, speculation” and the desire to destroy motivation for the voluntary amalgamation of communities and to undo the reform.

"Our challenge - and the Government is ready to do it – is to submit a separate bill containing that all lands shall be transferred to consolidated territorial communities", emphasized Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister also offered in synergy with local authorities and consolidated communities to shape an agenda for the Ukrainian Parliament, notably: to determine 3,5,7 laws on consolidated communities, land administration, addressing other existing problems, and propose these to consider in January-February 2017. Volodymyr Groysman believes that MPs and the VR Speaker will support this package of bills.