PM Shmyhal: Ukraine made significant progress in developing territorial communities

Ukraine has made significant progress in creating conditions for the development of territorial communities in 2020.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated this during an open dialogue of the Government and local self-government “Up-to-date European self-government – for Ukraine!”, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"This year, significant progress has been made in creating conditions for the development of communities, regions of the country as a whole. Due to joint efforts in 2020, we have managed to complete the formation of a new territorial basis," said Shmyhal.

He added that progress in the decentralization reform includes holding local elections on a new territorial basis.

According to the prime minister, the government is working on the implementation of the law on improving the organization of local government and district administrations. He noted that it relates to settling issues on the succession of property, rights and obligations of the liquidated district councils.

Shmyhal stressed that it is important to prevent the reduction of social infrastructure facilities. Therefore, most of these facilities will be transferred to the management of local communities. The prime minister noted that the objects of social infrastructure of territorial communities would be managed independently or with the support of the state.

As reported by Ukrinform, on September 17, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada the resolution on the liquidation of 490 districts and creation of 136 new districts instead. The new administrative system envisages the functioning of 1,469 united territorial communities in Ukraine.

Local elections took place in Ukraine on October 25.