All regions and hromadas have the same opportunities in the decentralisation process. And these are village and city residents, and not officials, who suffer, when local authorities do not use these opportunities. It should not be that people in the country live worse only because of the reluctance or inability of the local authorities to develop the hromada. Sooner or later, the Government will make an administrative decision on hromadas’ amalgamation. And then local officials will realise that they have lost the chance to become local leaders and lead the processes of development of their hromadas, said Vyacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services, at the forum “Zakarpattia Oblast – the centre of Europe: way of development and realisation of potential”, held today in Uzhgorod.

“Regarding the situation in the Zakarpattia Oblast, I am surprised that the majority of the audience in the hall has such a negative opinion on the work of the Oblast State Administration in terms of AH formation. It should become a signal for the OSA. Oblast authorities cannot ignore the interests and mood of the residents of the region,” said Vyacheslav Nehoda.

Addressing the representatives of the amalgamated hromadas, the First Deputy Minister noted: “You have already passed the difficult amalgamation way. And if there is a problem at the level of the rayon or oblast administration, it’s worth making the issue public, speaking about it openly, and this concerns the Government as well. I understand that if three hromadas submit their amalgamation documents to the OSA and there is nothing as a result, the fourth will not be willing to do it at all. I believe that the executive authorities on the ground must not fail to comply with the law and discredit the reform implemented by the Government and supported by the President.”

He also urged the representatives of non-amalgamated hromadas to be more active.

“Now it's not necessary to persuade you in favour of amalgamation. It was proved by your colleagues from the Tyachivska, Vilkhovetska and other AHs of the region. Thus, nothing and no one can prevent you from moving forward. One can try to delay the process of amalgamating two or three hromadas, but when there are tens and hundreds of them, when amalgamation process takes place in all rayons of the oblast, no one can stop this process. Therefore, now your initiative and desire to develop are very important. It is not too late – the window of opportunities will still be open this year,” said Vyacheslav Nehoda.

Reference

The forum was organised by the Zakarpattia Local Government Development Centre and the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme.