Today, on 26 February, in Kyiv on the initiative of the Ministry of Regional Development of Ukraine and the Council of Europe the round table discussion “Compliance with the law of local authorities’ activities: current issues of legislative regulation” took place.

During the event European standards, models and practices on supervision were presented and possible ways to enhance accountability of the local self-government authorities in Ukraine were discussed. The Council of Europe expert, Professor emeritus, University of Strasbourg Mr Robert HERTZOG drew participants attention to the fact that according to the Article 8 of the European Charter of Local Self-Government supervision is carried out by the State’s authorities in all of the Council of Europe member states except the United Kingdom and Finland, where the Ministry of Finance monitors the activities and finances of municipalities, of the acts - very selective. The expert also stressed that autonomy of local self-government authorities is not sovereignty. Instead, the oversight bodies often perform consultative and advisory functions, supporting local authorities by providing external legal and financial consultations.

The discussion was chaired by Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine – Minister  of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine Minister of Ukraine, Mr Hennadiy ZUBKO with participation of Special Envoy of the Government of Germany for the Ukrainian reform agenda,  Mr Georg MILBRADT, Head of Democratic Governance Department of the Council of Europe, Mr Daniel POPESCU and about 50 participants: representatives of local self-government bodies and their associations, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Presidential Administration of Ukraine, Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers, local executive authorities and experts. It is expected that consultations on the above-mentioned issue will continue and the Council of Europe has shown readiness to act as a mediator in this process, if necessary and if there is a request from the Ukrainian side. The event was held in the framework of implementation of the Council of Europe Programme “Decentralisation and Territorial Consolidation in Ukraine”.

FOR INFORMATION:

To see the presentation of the  Council of Europe expert, Professor emeritus, University of Strasbourg Mr Robert HERTZOG click here.

To read the Council of Europe Report on European practice and legal framework on prefect institution, local government in emergency situations (CELGR /LEX (2015)2) click here.