The decentralization reform in Ukraine has been one of the most transformative, Deputy Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Policy Katarína Mathernová said.
During the online discussion titled “New Local Government: Ambitious Agenda for Cooperation with the EU” held on Nov. 27, Mathernová said that she was very happy to say that we are now in 2020, and it was one of the most transformative reforms. She said that everyone who has traveled outside of Kyiv sees dynamism and social life. She also recalled her visit to Popasna in Luhansk region, located five kilometers from the contact line a few years ago, saying that she was really fascinated by what she saw there.
Mathernová said the EU continues to work with communities in Ukraine. The EU officials want to continue to work on communities’ institutional support, they see the program as a flexible tool that meets the needs of local communities. They were also able to rely on the project to help provide significant enough support in the spring due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to her, the European Commission admires what has happened in the field of decentralization in Ukraine, but sees it as a still ongoing process. Mathernová also said the EU supports Ukraine and will continue its expert and financial support.
