On 20 July, the Parliamentary Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning recommended the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to put on its agenda and adopt as a basis the Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Improving the Local Self-Government Participation in Inter-territorial and Cross-Border Cooperation (No. 9450).

"This draft law provides local self-government bodies with more opportunities to attract European support, including for the post-war recovery and reconstruction of territories," said Oleksandr Aliksiychuk, MP, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cooperation of Municipalities and Oblasts, when presenting the draft law.

This June, the draft law passed the Congressional hearings, and, according to Oleksandr Aliksiychuk, they had a positive effect on its presentation at the Congress of Local and Territorial Authorities under the President of Ukraine.

As reported, in particular, this draft law defines the mechanism for registering associations to implement cooperation projects, the mechanism for approving cooperation agreements, provides for the allocation of funds as a separate line for the competition of cross-border cooperation projects, clearly specifies the role of the oblast administrations, etc.

In addition, the draft law provides for the possibility for non-border oblasts to participate in cooperation: creating new projects and joining existing ones.

"We do not restrict, stop or impede with this draft law, but rather regulate the participation of local self-government bodies or state authorities in the cross-border cooperation process. We hear from the representatives of oblasts that the draft law solves most of the problems they face in this area," said Oleksandr Aliksiychuk at the Congressional hearings.