ADMINISTRATIVE TERRITORIAL REFORM – WHAT CHANGES DO VILLAGE COMMUNITIES NEED

Abstract

A lot of European countries have already implemented a reform of administrative-territorial structure. Our country is also facing this problem: being a part of the former USSR, its administrative-territorial structure has been repeatedly changing (some administrative-territorial units disappeared, the new ones appeared; boundaries of regions and districts changed as well as their number). Inefficiency of administration in Ukrainian regions is so obvious, that immediate and decisive actions are required. The question is how reformation will be conducted and how effective it will be from the point of view of state and regional management and social-economic life of communities.
Certainly, the country’s leadership insists on “voluntary” radical changes. To make these changes there are a necessary legislative framework, agreement on financing, the orders of the government and regional administrations, etc. But there is another way, for example, to eliminate regions, to enlarge districts, to create counties, to shorten the apparatus in rural councils and to keep only the heads of these councils. Those persons, who apply for the position of the head of the council, should be at the same time registrated as candidates for deputies of the county council. In the case of election, they would lead the community and represent them at the district level. In addition, all the resources which belong to now existing rural communities, but are not controlled by them because of different reasons, should be immediately transmitted to their disposal. It will create conditions for their financial independence.
An effective implementation of administrative functions by the leadership of the newly formed communities and counties for ensuring their socio-economic and cultural development has to become the main result of administrative-territorial reform.