President Volodymyr Zelensky considers it necessary to restore the Regional Development Council, which will be able to improve communication between the central government and the local government. He announced this on Facebook.
"I consider the resuscitation of the Regional Development Council to be one of the most promising directions, which will significantly improve communication between mayors, heads of regional administrations, and central authorities."
According to the president, now thanks to decentralization, local authorities have received a lot of powers, power and financial opportunities. And this, in turn, led to the fact that there was a "desperate struggle" for influence in communities almost throughout Ukraine.
At the same time, Zelensky added that decentralization is primarily about development. Therefore, according to him, constructive forces in local councils, the central government and society as a whole should restrain "the appetites of businessmen who consider local budgets and new powers exclusively as a personal feeding trough or a compensator for missed opportunities at the national level."
The President stated that it is necessary to continue the decentralization reform exactly as it was planned - for the development of communities, the creation of new opportunities and a comfortable environment for life.
Zelensky called on all representatives of local authorities and new politicians in municipalities to discuss how to achieve a high quality of life in municipalities across the country.
For reference. On December 7, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Local Self-Government.
Background:
- The Council of Regions was created by the ex-president Viktor Yanukovych in April 2010 "in order to ensure cooperation between state authorities and local self-government bodies".
- In September 2014, the fifth president Petro Poroshenko canceled ego, and in April 2015 created The Council of Regional Development "with the aim of facilitating the establishment of effective interaction between state bodies and local self-government bodies in matters of developing an optimal model of local self-government development."
- This council was canceled by his successor, the current president Vladimir Zelensky, in December 2019. In the same month, he created the Council for the Development of Communities and Territories "in order to facilitate the establishment of effective interaction between state bodies and local self-government bodies."
