You're reading: Discussion of decentralization in Ukraine to continue for 2 weeks

The discussion of decentralization in Ukrainian regions will continue for two weeks, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Development of Communities and Territories Denys Shmyhal has said.

“Why did we take the path of large public discussion? We started it on Feb. 25 in Kyiv, with an expert discussion involving a large circle of foreign experts, our partners from around the world, members of parliament, heads of formed amalgamated territorial communities, local heads, and, in fact, we went further to Luhansk and Donetsk regions. This was the beginning of the discussion in the regions. This discussion will continue for almost the next two weeks in the regions. We invite everyone to express their opinion what should be changes to the Constitution, how should decentralization finish, what it should entail,” he said in the Freedom of Speech of Savik Shuster program on the Ukraine TV channel on Feb. 28.

Shmyhal said that this public discussion marks the completion of the first stage of decentralization in Ukraine.

“In fact, this is the first stage of the administrative-territorial reform, which will end with the elections this autumn. Another step is to amend the Constitution, to put in order the administrative-territorial structure that we will receive after the elections in the formed local communities, in accordance with long-term plans,” he said.

According to the deputy prime minister, the administrative-territorial reform is one of the most successful and one of the most understandable for Ukrainians. He also said that according to long-term plans, approximately 1,400 communities should be created in Ukraine, and almost 1,000 have already been created.