In the context of the political and economic crisis linked to the war in Ukraine, but also to challenges such as global warming, two debates on March 26th at the 48th session of the Chamber of Regions attempted to outline appropriate responses to the financial management of resources, and the development and reform of sub-regional levels - essential for local and regional democracy.
Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories in Ukraine, emphasized the particular context of financial governance in times of war. Nevertheless, like Sean Dougherty, Senior Advisor and Head of the OECD Network on Fiscal Relations Secretariat, he emphasized the importance of establishing equalization systems that guarantee citizens comparable levels of public services at different levels of taxation.
In addition, the Chamber of Regions emphasizes the need to ensure the financial autonomy of regions in times of increased financial pressure. Upholded by the European Charter of Local Self-Government, this allows regions to invest in policies that directly address the needs of citizens. Ensuring the application of environmental criteria in procurement procedures, as well as the quality of infrastructure projects, seems to be a key issue for the members of the Chamber. Transparency and the fight against corruption could be facilitated by AI and innovation in the field of citizen digital participation platforms, provided that democratic rules and the human factor are respected.
The debate on the role of sub-regional authorities in countries with three levels of sub-national autonomy highlighted the importance of these intermediate powers in ensuring that public action has the right human and territorial scope. The participants, including André Viola, President of the European Confederation of Local Intermediate Authorities (CEPLI), emphasized that reforms are sometimes necessary to clarify the mandates of these authorities, but that abolishing them for budgetary reasons could seriously hamper the process of coordinating local and regional policies. The Ukrainian speakers, Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of Regional and District Councils and President of the Kharkiv Regional Council, and the youth delegate, Yelyzaveta Kaidash, emphasized the pursuit of decentralization reform with a clarification of the role of sub-regional authorities, such as the rayons. These could contribute more to making health and education services more accessible to young Ukrainians in a context of war.
Mediabox interview with Sean Dougherty
Mediabox interview with Dušan Raičević and Albert Castellanos Maduell
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