Decentralisation reform and community reconstruction: First Vice-Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko held a meeting with international partners
On 20 March, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko met with Georg Milbradt, Special Envoy of the Federal Government of Germany for the reforms in the areas of governance and decentralisation in Ukraine.
The foreign delegation included the Head of the European Integration, Governance and Rule of Law, Civil Society Section of the EU Delegation, Asier Santillan Luzuriaga, Head of the Economic Cooperation Section of the German Embassy in Kyiv, Markus Kohl, and GIZ ULEAD with Europe Programme Director Bastian Veigel.
At the beginning of the meeting, the First Vice-Speaker underscored the importance of developing local self-governance and continuing the decentralisation reform that is being successfully implemented in Ukraine. The decentralisation legislation remains among the priorities on the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He also emphasised the importance of the Eurointegration draft law No. 4298 on amendments to the Law of Ukraine «On Local State Administrations» and some other legislative acts on reforming the territorial organisation of executive power. This draft law will be submitted to the Parliament in the near future.
«I am grateful for this visit and the detailed discussion of the results of the decentralisation reform, as well as the next steps towards its implementation. In particular, work has already begun on the separation of duties and responsibilities, and we continue to work on budget-related matters», said Oleksandr Korniienko.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament highlighted the issue of defence spending, which is the main part of Ukraine's budget during the war, and also emphasised tax revenues to local budgets.
«We also discussed the issue of rebuilding communities affected by the full-scale Russian aggression», added Oleksandr Kornienko.