“The IXth session of the Parliament of Ukraine has started. We expect the Parliament to solve the issue of local elections in AHs, which is now blocked at the Central Election Commission, as soon as possible as well as to consider draft laws on decentralisation”, said Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine.

According to Mr. Zubko, the most important draft laws aimed to enhance decentralisation are as follows:

• Draft law No. 8051 “On the Principles of the Administrative and Territorial Order of Ukraine” (defines the fundamentals of the administrative and territorial order of Ukraine as well as procedures for the establishment, liquidation, setting and changing the border of administrative-territorial units);
• Draft law No. 7118 “ On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Management of Land Resources on the Territory of AHs”;
• Draft law No. 6403 “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Regulation of Urban Development”” (stipulates unified documents on spatial planning for AHs, extends powers to regulate urban development).

“I am grateful to the members of Parliament for their cooperation during last session. I count on further fruitful cooperation in the areas of decentralisation reforms, energy efficiency and municipal housing as well as construction”, stressed Hennadii Zubko.

Presently, 123 AHs are waiting for the Central Election Commission to assign the elections of local mayors and local council members. These AHs represent 1 million 21 thousand residents. Also, local elections are still pending for 318 thousand residents of 55 hromadas which joined 37 previously established AHs.

As previously reported, the Central Election Commission found the reason not to assign the elections in AHs in October, but they can still take place in November or December.