The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine was held in Uzhhorod

On 5 September, the Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, Denys Uliutin, took part in a session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, held in Uzhhorod. A total of 264 members of Congress participated in person, while 1,403 joined online.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine is an important platform for dialogue between all levels of the Government that unites 1,759 members of the Congress, 1,570 members of territorial communities and 49 regional governments.

One of the key topics discussed was support for communities in frontline regions.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the session with a strong welcome address. He thanked the President of the European Council, António Costa, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Maria Malmer Stenergard, for their presence and noted that the participation of European partners in the work of the Congress is evidence of the close relationship between Ukraine and European Union. The President of Ukraine encouraged international partners to continue supporting Ukraine and to maintain sanctions against Russia.

The President expressed his gratitude to all Ukrainian communities that contribute to the economic strength of the state, enhance its resilience and defence capabilities. The Head of State extended special thanks to frontline communities that, despite daily challenges, continue their work every day, create jobs, and take steps essential for the country’s survival and development.

In his speech, the President also emphasized the importance of integrating veterans into civilian life and the establishment of the Heroes Policy. He emphasized that creating jobs for veterans should become a priority for all communities, and efforts in this area should be constructive and focused on increasing employment opportunities.

The Congress was established on February 25, 2021. At the core of its work is the task of the President of Ukraine to establish close cooperation between central state authorities and local government bodies, aiming to develop agreed-upon solutions that improve the quality of life for people in all regions of the state. Since the establishment of the Congress, four meetings have been held: on September 30, 2021, October 29, 2021, April 27, 2022, and March 4, 2023. Regular meetings of its working bodies – the Chamber of Local Authorities, the Chamber of Regions, and the Presidium were also held. According to the results of the meetings of the Congress and working bodies, management decisions are being developed, and, most importantly, direct communication is taking place with representatives of authorities at all levels in the regions, which significantly speeds up and facilitates the resolution of problematic issues—more details are available at the link.