The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories does not intend to alter the boundaries of existing communities. Instead, updated criteria are being developed to assess their institutional, administrative, and financial capacity, as well as their ability to respond effectively to contemporary challenges.

In an interview with the Decentralisation Portal, Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister, spoke about this.

Since forming in their current configuration, the communities have not yet had the opportunity to realise their full potential. ‘The last few years have been challenging, with first the COVID-19 pandemic and then full-scale war,’ stated Oleksii Riabykin.

At the same time, the Ministry for Development has prepared criteria for assessing the capacity of communities. This tool enables the state to effectively support territories and allows communities to understand their strengths and identify imbalances in areas such as institutions, administration, finances, and infrastructure development.

‘The methodology for establishing capable communities must be updated with new criteria and requirements to enable a more objective and accurate evaluation of capacity. Reconsideration will only be possible once communities are able to realise their potential under the new criteria. Currently, we are not developing any projects that would change community boundaries – whether enlargement or reversal processes. Communities will remain within their existing boundaries,’ underlined the Deputy Minister.

The Ministry is planning to start monitoring this process in the near future.

‘First, we assess capabilities in real conditions, support communities, and only then – if data and appropriate circumstances are available – we can consider any structural changes, summarised the Deputy Minister.

Read the full interview with Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, on the Decentralisation portal.