Some people in rayon and oblast administrations still do not support and sometimes block the processes of voluntary amalgamation of hromadas. And such a stance cannot be understood, since AHs, after amalgamation, take over the territory management powers, followed by the corresponding resources. The wise leaders of rayons and oblasts realised that hromadas’ amalgamation is not a problem, but an opportunity to develop and build an effective territorial management system. These are the opportunities for the socio-economic development of the entire region, created by AHs and cities, said Ivan Lukerya, expert of the Central Reform Office under MinRegion, on the air of the “Radio NV”.

According to him, most of oblasts and rayons understood the benefits of hromadas’ amalgamation. Capable AHs have already learned to attract and effectively use funds for the development of their territories, perform all economic functions, provide accessible and high-quality services to people. Thus, hromadas are slowly taking over all the powers not intrinsic to rayons and oblasts. “Why to resist this? On the contrary, the OSA and RSA should stimulate amalgamation to have more opportunities and resources to carry out their functions: strategic, supervisory, and consulting ones,” the expert believes.

He noted that, where this is the case, amalgamation processes are more active. For example, more than half of the territories in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi and Chernihiv Oblasts are already in AHs. “People experience more and more positive impacts of the reforms: new kindergartens, schools, hospitals, renovated and illuminated roads, new water supply systems, and a higher level of social, communal and administrative services. As a result, people's trust in authorities – and not only local, but also rayon, oblast, and central authorities – grows. And where the rayon and oblast leaders lack wisdom, we still have an old, ineffective system of territorial management. There is little change for the better, and people have mistrust in authorities and changes, because they are assured that any changes will only harm the situation,” says Ivan Lukerya.

More information on amalgamation can be found HERE