Децентралізаційна реформа: передумови, реалізація, результати, перспективи

Abstract

The reform of local self-government and territorial organization of power on the basis of decentralization, which has been successfully implemented since 2015, has come to a logical conclusion with the formation of new territorial communities and districts and the election of representative bodies in local elections on October 25, 2020. It not only created new opportunities for the development of territorial communities, but also introduced a European model of municipal power, adapted to national conditions and thus brought Ukraine closer to EU standards. This reform is without exaggeration a reform № 1 in Ukraine and, according to the author, is an alternative to federalization, which in recent years has been persistently imposed by external and internal anti-Ukrainian forces. The purpose of decentralization is to form a capable territorial community – the basis for the organization of public authority at the basic level and the main element of local democracy. Given the importance of the results of this reform for the further development not only of communities but also of Ukraine's European perspective in general, the socio-political preconditions of the reform are analyzed, positive results have already been achieved and the main problems faced by the decentralization process. In particular, in five years we managed to achieve the main task of decentralization reform – to form 1469 territorial communities throughout Ukraine – the basis of local government at the basic level and the main providers of quality public services, which fall into the competence of all local issues, as well as 136 new districts that meet EU standards. Thus, an extremely important political task was solved: to decentralize power to the community level means to minimize the manifestations of separatism. Emphasis is placed on the fact that decentralization can yield positive results and is safe for the stability of the state only if the latter remains effective and balanced mechanisms for monitoring the activities of municipal authorities in terms of their legality and livelihoods. In the context of European experience, as well as national conditions, the author's vision of the final stage of decentralization reform is proposed, in particular, the need to introduce effective state bodies not only at the central level but also in all regional and subregional administrative-territorial units, which threaten sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security. According to the author, this should be a state institution of the prefectural type with the authority to respond effectively and timely to these challenges and threats. Modeling of the national structure of public power at the local and regional levels should be carried out taking into account the following basic parameters: the unitary state system and the parliamentary-presidential republic. This approach is most consistent with the modern paradigm of state development and national interests of Ukraine in the context of the ability to ensure the sovereignty, territorial integrity and balance of socio-economic development of territorial communities and regions. Key words: decentralization, local self-government, territorial organization of power, territorial community, region, self-government body, regionalization