Polish experts who arrived on Monday, March 31, in Ukraine at the invitation of Volodymyr Groisman, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities, to assist in the implementation of local government reform, have already discussed the joint action plan with the Ukrainian side and have identified the priority issues. First of all, the question is to prepare the legal framework for implementing the reform. "I'd like to see that within one month we have first tried-and-tested necessary changes in the legislation. In one month we will be able to enter the process of coordination with the Government and Parliament, "- said Volodymyr Groisman.

Ukrainian-Polish expert group has to develop models of authority distribution between all levels of local government (community, rayon (district), oblast (region)), their financial support (tax revenue distribution), as well as to identify the mechanisms for training local communities to effectively implement the new range of powers.

The participants of the joint meeting of Polish and Ukrainian parties, which took place at Ministry of Regional Development, agreed in understanding of the importance of the reform. "In Poland, local self-government reform has been the basis for implementing other reforms in the state. It has resulted in the reduction of corruption at the local level, in the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), it has democratized the country, and as a result, the relations at local level have become more democratic and transparent," - said Jacek Michałowski, Chief of the Chancellery of the President of Poland.

Today the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is planning to consider a draft Concept of local self-government reform elaborated by the Ministry of Regional Development together with a group of experts, which has also received the support of experts from the Council of Europe. According to Volodymyr Groysman, approval of the Concept will become a political decision of the Ukrainian authorities at the outset of the local self-government reform.

Polish experts have assured that they will be accompany Ukrainian officials at all stages of the reform implementation. Marcin Święcicki, Chairman of the Expert Group, Member of the Polish Sejm (MP), has emphasized that the Group starts its activities right away – on April 1.

Press Service of the Ministry of Regional Development