CoR President Lebrun: decentralisation is key for the European integration process of Ukraine and its territorial integrity - Main contents
The president of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Michel Lebrun, is in Kiev today discussing the Ukrainian government's proposals for decentralisation reform. At the invitation of Volodymyr Hroysman, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for regional development, President Lebrun is leading a delegation of CoR members to support the process and to share their experience in decentralisation.
"From the beginning, we have supported the democratic process for reforming Ukraine. The future of this country is found within Europe and European regional and local authorities are ready to contribute to this challenging process", stated Michel Lebrun (BE/EPP), president of the CoR.
Ukraine signed an Association Agreement with the EU last week and the government is undertaking significant reform including the promotion of local self-governance by decentralising powers towards local authorities, as stressed by the new President Poroschenko.
The CoR has set out a number of proposals that can contribute to the reform process. To meet the goals, it suggests that the separation of powers between State and local/regional governments should be strengthened by assuring further democratic accountability to regional and provincial leaders who should be able to directly work for the territorial interests and respecting the rights of minorities. Other proposals include the reallocation of financial and human resources to the local and regional level; a further definition of functions and competencies of the new executive bodies of regional and district councils, a wider consultation involving all stakeholders and civil society and the possibility for regional and local authorities to use EU's tools for territorial cooperation such as the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation ( EGTC). The CoR also offers to the regional and local authorities of Ukraine a platform to exchange best practices in the context of the Eastern partnership through the CORLEAP, the joint assembly where Ukrainian regional and local authorities count on 3 members.
During his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Hroysman, President Lebrun stated that, "Your reform is ambitious because it is grounded on the subsidiarity principle and inspired by the Multi-Level Governance approach, which are key to assuring both territorial economic and social development and democracy. We are ready to share our experience of administrative and fiscal decentralisation, and of building closer links with citizens .
The CoR delegation* also met members of the Ukrainian parliament as well as Mustafa Dzhemylyov leader of the Tatar community, and will later this day take part in a ceremony in respect to the victims of Maidan.
The CoR delegation is composed of Michel Lebrun (BE/EPP), CoR president, Arnoldas Abramaviā ius (LT/EPP), Mayor of Zarasai District Municipaity, Mick Antoniw (UK/PES), Member of the National Assembly for Wales, Pavel Branda (CZ/ECR), Radlo Deputy mayor, István Sértő-Radics (HU/ALDE), Mayor of Zszka and Uno Silber (EE/EA), Member of Kose Rural municipality Council.