OREANDA-NEWS. September 29, 2014. To implement reforms aimed at decentralization of power, local self-government, fiscal decentralization, deregulation of services, the Ukrainian Parliament needs to get a stable majority in the pre-term elections so as to adopt relevant laws by the end of the year, said Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Volodymyr Groysman at the conference “Municipal consolidation in Europe: trends and solutions to amalgamation and co-operation”.

"We have political will of the President towards European integration and decentralization of power, the readiness of the Government to act in the direction of decentralization of power, and today, the election process to the Ukrainian Parliament, which is extremely important, has been launched. We need to get a stable majority in the Parliament in order to implement all decisions that meet the best European practices and needs of Ukraine," he stated.

According to Volodymyr Groysman, Ukraine must use the challenge caused by Russia’s multi-aggression as the possibility of reforms in Ukraine. He has stressed that Ukraine is still within the post-Soviet system, which limits local communities in opportunities, decision-making, blocks the formation of financial basics, etc.

"We need to get rid of the previous system of government in Ukraine, as it means centralization, corruption, it is destroying the state, inhibits the initiative at the local level, destroying the values adopted in the civilized world", Volodymyr Groysman underlined.

The conference, organized by the Council of Europe along with the Ministry of Regional Development, saw fruitful exchanges of opinions of Ukrainian government officials, associations’ representatives and experts from European countries, including the UK, Georgia, Latvia, Albania and Malta. They have shared their experience on the reform of municipal consolidation.