Fifty mayors, councillors and representatives from 12 large Ukrainian cities, as well as from the capital city of Kyiv, met to discuss the increasing role of big municipalities as engines for political, economic and cultural development. “Larger cities are shaping our future, absorbing more and more territory, increasing their political and economic power and thereby bringing new opportunities for citizens,” stated Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, President of the Congress, at the opening of the roundtable in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 3 July 2017. “Only by joining efforts of local authorities and civil society, we will ensure that the expectations from citizens are met,” underlined Vitaliy Klitshko, Mayor of Kyiv and President of the Association of Ukrainian Cities. 'Kyiv City Council is actively applying best European practices to enhance transparency and standards of good governance in the capital city. In such a way we will ensure efficient decentralisation in Kyiv and also in other municipalities of Ukraine' noted Volodymyr Prokopiv, (Ukraine, EPP/CCE), Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress. Members of the Congress and experts from Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ukraine shared views on governance and distribution of powers among national, city and district levels within metropolitan areas. Special focus was put on citizen participation and transparency as key prerequisites for political accountability and enhanced local democracy.
- More information
- Report on Metropolitan Governance in Europe and in Ukraine: Legitimacy, ownership and efficiency (English | Ukrainian)
- Photo gallery
- Web site of Kyiv City Council
