Today, on 17 April, in Strasbourg Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn JAGLAND and Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine– Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine Hennadiy ZUBKO signed the Joint Statement on Co-operation for the strengthening of local government in Ukraine. The Parties confirmed the need for decentralising power in full compliance with the international obligations of Ukraine and in line with European standards and best practice, recognised that one of the major obstacles to decentralisation is the excessive municipal fragmentation of Ukraine and agreed to co-operate, in particular, including by supporting the operation of a network of regional offices on local government reform and decentralisation of power and an expert group at the central level.