Decentralization of local self-government under the conditions of administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine

Zinoviy Siryk,Olha Chakii,Yuliia Rohozian,Nazariy Popadynets,Mykhaylo Pityulych,Olena Panukhnyk,Yana Fedotova,Nataliia Lysyak,Vasyl Hyk,Inna Irtyshcheva

doi:10.5267/j.ac.2021.2.006

Abstract

The essence of administrative and territorial reform and decentralization reform in Ukraine is to move away from a centralized model of government in the state, ensure the ability of local self-government and build an effective system of territorial power organization in Ukraine based on the principles of subsidiarity, omnipresence and financial self-sufficiency of local self-government. The purpose of the article is to identify areas for improving the effectiveness of the administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine based on assessing the results of its financial decentralization component. Peculiarities of changing the territorial basis of local self-government in Ukraine investigate the necessity of moving from a voluntary amalgamation of territorial communities to the stage of their formation according to clearly defined criteria and providing opportunities for the development of such communities in the future. It focuses on the need to consolidate areas and change the system of interaction of the subregional level with the amalgamated territorial communities at a basic level.

Highlights

Twenty years of experience in the development of the local self-government system in Ukraine have shown their inefficiency due to the inability of territorial communities to ensure the development of the territory for the formation of a full-fledged living environment and the provision of high-quality social services to the population
In order to overcome this problem in Ukraine, the reform of the local self-government system and the territorial organization of power has been ongoing since 2014, as well as comprehensive sectoral reforms designed to stimulate the establishment of direct democracy institutions, ensure the coordination of the interests of the state and territorial communities, and increase the level of citizens' life on the basis of decentralization
The fundamental document, which substantiates the purpose of the reform, clearly defines the problems that should be overcome in the process of implementing transformations, and the ways to solve them is the Concept of reforming local self-government and territorial organization of power in Ukraine (Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Twenty years of experience in the development of the local self-government system in Ukraine have shown their inefficiency due to the inability of territorial communities to ensure the development of the territory for the formation of a full-fledged living environment and the provision of high-quality social services to the population. The slowdown or even suspension of the development of local self-government occurred as a result of the territorial communities’ fragmentation (world experience proves that territorial communities with a population of less than five thousand people are financially insolvent to ensure their development and do not have an adequate resource base), complete financial dependence on the centre and lack of authority, provided locally. In order to overcome this problem in Ukraine, the reform of the local self-government system and the territorial organization of power has been ongoing since 2014, as well as comprehensive sectoral reforms designed to stimulate the establishment of direct democracy institutions, ensure the coordination of the interests of the state and territorial communities, and increase the level of citizens' life on the basis of decentralization

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Conclusion