Hromadas’ activity is increasing in the process of their capacity building. The decisions of the Central Electoral Commission are already being expected by:

• 68 amalgamated hromadas;
• 37 councils that joined 23 already functioning amalgamated hromadas.

The future of 50 AHs is in the hands of the oblast state administrations:

• 13 AHs, regarding which applications to the CEC are under preparation;
• 37 AHs, awaiting OSA’s conclusions on the compliance of the decisions on amalgamation with the current legislation.

Another 34 AHs are at the stage of making the final decision on amalgamation. It is evidenced by MinRegion’s monitoring data, prepared on the basis of the data received from oblast state administrations.

MinRegion considers the dynamics of the formation of capable hromadas to be positive, but they express concern that 128 Ukrainian rayons have not yet formed any AH.

“It’s impossible that people in one rayon supported the amalgamation and already have good results, while people in the neighbouring rayon act like self-enemies and do not want changes to come. The reasons that hamper amalgamation in these rayons have names and surnames. People should help us identify these causes. Do not resist the changes that people have been waiting for more than two decades,” commented Vyacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services.

He also urged AHs, working in a new format since the early years of the reform, to become active leaders of change.

“They can today appreciate the importance of the reform as nobody else. In addition to positive experience, they can share their own mistakes so that others do not repeat them. It's not about imposing somebody to someone. The point is that one, who still has some doubts about the need for the reform or believes more in the myths that it destroys the village, should think critically and look for answers to questions from the new local self-government leaders in the existing amalgamated hromadas. Each of them today will say that the first step is the hardest. Passivity has never been a catalyst for change for the better, yet vice versa. If nothing is done, nothing will change,” said the First Deputy Minister.

It should be mentioned that in 2015 the first 159 AHs were established. Today they have made progress in their economic and social development and have become an inspiration for those hromadas formed later. There are already 705 AHs that have held their first local elections in Ukraine.

The Monitoring of the decentralisation process chapter features the pace of the reform.