Vitalii Bezgin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons, announced the launch of the newly established ministry and outlined its key priorities.

According to the Minister, today Serhii Koretskyi, Prime Minister of Ukraine, officially introduced the leaders of the new ministries to their teams. At the same time, all the necessary organisational and administrative procedures for establishing the ministry were initiated last week.

‘The main task is not to lose momentum despite the transitional period,’ emphasised Vitalii Bezgin.

The Minister identified six strategic priorities for the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons:

• cohesive development of territories, with a transition towards the EU cohesion policy;
• ensuring the rights and long-term solutions for internally displaced persons;
• further development of multi-level governance capable of ensuring the quality provision of basic services to citizens;
• creation of a quality and safe living environment, in particular taking into account the principles of accessibility;
• development of international partnerships to support the development of territories;
• strengthening engagement with Ukrainians abroad and creating incentives for their return to Ukraine.

Thus, the new ministry defines its mandate as being considerably broader than traditional regional policy. Its responsibility will encompass the development of communities and territories, the integration of European cohesion policy, support for internally displaced persons, multi-level governance, international partnerships, and the creation of conditions for the return of Ukrainians from abroad.

It should be noted that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has appointed Vitalii Bezgin as Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine in the new Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The process of establishing the new ministry is currently underway.