18^th through 19^th May Public Forum “Ways to improve institutions of local democracy in Ukraine” with participation of European experts took place in Kyiv. Politicians, representatives of local self-governments, public figures and analysts, international experts on local democracy took part in it. The event was aimed at discussion of policy issues and developing common for public and politicians approaches related to promoting the institutions of local democracy and lobbying the legislative initiatives in this area.

 

During the opening ceremony Ihor Kohut, President of the Agency for Legislative Initiatives spoke about the need to improve local government in Ukraine, the impact of economic crisis on local policy, which again showed serious problems that exist in this area. Also, the expert mentioned about the monitoring mission of the Assembly of Local and Regional Governments of Europe, which will be a challenge for the Ukrainian authorities.

Greetings were also made by Vladimir Ristovski, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, and Guido Beltrani, Director, Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine, who spoke of projects on development of institutions of local democracy and development prospects of the mentioned area.

 

Basil Demchyshyn, head of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on State Building provided the information on the progress of bills related to local referendums and local initiatives. In particular, the first draft Law is considered by the Committee on State and Local governments as a basis, a draft Law on local initiatives will be revised and reconsidered.

 

Marina Stavniychuk, advisor to the President of Ukraine, head of the Coordination Council for development of civil society reported on the first results’ of the Coordinating Council on civil society activities and the process of strategy on supporting the development of third sector in Ukraine. According to her opinion, the reform on local government related to involving citizens in management decisions would be a continuation of the constitutional reform of 2004. Cancelling the last, according to Marina Stavniychuk, inter alia, happened due to the lack of progress in improving local self-government.

 

The discussion on "participatory democracy as a basis for cooperation of powerand the public at the local level" was attended by: Gennady Maksak, President of the non-governmental think tank "Polis’ky Foundation of International and Regional Studies" (Chernihiv); Pawel Swianiewicz, head of the Department for Regional Development and Local Policy  of Warsaw University, Advisor to the President of Poland on local democracy and decentralization reforms, expert of the Council of Europe program "Strengthening local democracy and support of local government reforms in Ukraine" (Poland); Elena Chebanenko, Director of policy Analysis, Agency for Legislative Initiatives (presentation "White Book on public participation in decision making at the local level "); Michael Nachod, director of the Center for policy analysis and election consulting (Lutsk); Oleksiy Orlovsky, Director of the program" Civil Society and Good Governance, International Renaissance Foundation and Igor Abramiuk, an expert analyst of Civil Society Institute.

 

 "Prospects for the Institute of Local Referendum in Ukraine" were discussed by the immediate representatives of local government: Yuri Bova, Mayor of Trostyanets sale and Vladimir Bondarenko, Chief of Apparatus faction "Bloc Vitali Klitschko" in Kyyivskiyi City Council, who spoke on the practical policy aspects on the sites. Dr. Reto Steiner, professor of the University of Bern (Competence center for public administration, Switzerland) told the audience about the Swiss practice re using local referendum mechanism (presentation "Local Referendums: a challenge for the government? - Swiss experience and possible prerequisites for the further improvement of the tool"). According to expert’s words, due to local referendums and local initiatives, Switzerland has one of the highest in Europe levels of public trust to government. Oleksandr Zaslavs’ky, expert of the Department of Policy Analysis, Agency for Legislative Initiatives, focused on the history of Ukrainian law on referendums on the sites, the problem aspects of profile bill and recommendations related to possible solutions.

 

Thematic block "Results of changes in the electoral system at local level and need of updating" was highlighted by Andriy Kohut, program coordinator, Legislative Initiatives Lab, Dennis Kovryzhenko, an expert on electoral matters and Serhiy Tkachenko, head of Donetsk regional organization  NGO "Committee of Voters of Ukraine".

 

Forum was closed by the discussion of Forum’s Resolution.

 

International Conference was conducted due to support of Council of Europe Programme "Strengthening Local Democracy and Supporting the Reforms on Local Self-government in Ukraine", Swiss-Ukrainian Project “Decentralization Support in Ukraine” and in close cooperation with Ministry of of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, Coordination Council on civil society development and Parliament committee on state construction and local self-government.

 

News was provided by the web-site of Legislative Initiatives Lab.