Decentralisation is not only hromadas’ amalgamation and a better service quality. Our ultimate goal is to completely change the management system on the ground. First and foremost, these are strong formed hromadas that perform all functions for their residents, while the central government forms a policy and supports this process, said Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister – Minister for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, at the “Dialogue Day with the Authorities” forum of local self-government representatives in Ternopil.

“Decentralisation is the highest priority for the country, and this reform really shows high results. Only one example, additional UAH 28 billion of local budget revenues over January-August 2018, and people need to know it and understand how the funds spent. Ukrainians should receive not only new but high quality of all services,” noted Hennadii Zubko.

According to him, the key mechanism for the decentralisation success is transparency in both the activities of service organisations and local authorities. “We have already submitted our proposals on the State Fiscal Service reforming, which is primarily a service organisation, to the Ministry of Finance. This will allow local authorities to see, which enterprises the taxes come from, how much PIT is paid, and so on. But it is necessary to work in the opposite direction – to publish own budgets, expenses and report to the citizens. Hromadas want transparency in everything. And the country is moving in this direction,” Hennadii Zubko emphasised.

The Dialogue Day with the Authorities is a traditional annual event that is a platform for discussion of issues and elaboration of a common stance of the state authorities and the Association of Ukrainian Cities on the development of local self-government, improvement of the legislative framework, solving specific problems of ensuring the of hromadas’ functioning. The event is being carried out within the framework of the project “Development of a course for strengthening local self-government in Ukraine" (PULSE), implemented by the Association of Ukrainian Cities, supported by USAID.