Decentralization of powers as a determining factor in reforming local selfgovernment in Ukraine

Abstract

The article explores the problems of local self-government reform in Ukraine and suggests ways to overcome them. The analysis of the legal framework, which is the legal basis for the formation and functioning of public administration and defines the course for European integration, lays the foundations for the formation of public administration, shows that there was a sufficient legal framework for the first stage of the reform from 2014 to 2018. However, for the second phase from 2019 to 2021, it is necessary to amend the Constitution on decentralization to further advance the reform and complete it, and to adopt a number of important laws. Paper investigates the processes of decentralization of power, reform of local self-government in Ukraine and Chernihiv region. The results testify to the positive dynamics of formation of territorial communities. An analysis of the implementation of the perspective plan for community formation in the Chernihiv region, which reflects the vision of creating financially viable united territorial communities, showed that such planning facilitates the transition to direct intergovernmental budget relations, gives the opportunity to receive a subsidy for the formation of infrastructure of united territorial communities, and also, promotes the voluntary involvement of communities in united communities and cities of regional significance.The analysis of the results of sociological research in Ukraine and the territorial communities of Chernihiv region shows that the majority of the population of Ukraine is aware of the reform of local self-government and decentralization and considers this reform necessary. Surveys in Territorial Communities of Chernihiv Oblast have found that the overwhelming majority of respondents do not have an unambiguous answer to their attitudes towards United Territorial Communities, but do expect improvements from decentralization. The study identified the main problems of decentralization in Ukraine and in the Chernihiv region and suggested measures to be taken to address them. These include: introducing changes to the regulatory support of the reform, ensuring the coherence of reform implementation processes, redistributing powers to strengthen public control over local authorities, expanding instruments for promoting economic development, introducing inclusive governance mechanisms