Graduates of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies discussed the problems and prospects of effective cooperation between the authorities and the public at the local level

On December 25-26, 2010, a conference “Increasing cooperation between the authorities and the public at the local level for community development” was held, organized by the Laboratory of Legislative Initiatives and the Ukrainian School of Political Studies.

Considering that the implementation of local democracy principles is one of the main missions of civil society in Ukraine, the purpose of the conference was to exchange experience between graduates of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies on Cooperation of Authorities and the Public at the local level to make recommendations aimed at stimulating efficient development at the community.
The conference was opened by Igor Kohut, Chairman of the Laboratory of Legislative Initiatives, Director of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies, who emphasized the importance of cooperation between the authorities and the public at the local level in the context of national reforms, and also emphasized the importance of exchange of experience between local authorities and civil society. Gennady Druzenko, Head of the Secretariat of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on European Integration, on the example of the city of Kamianets-Podilsky presented his vision of the importance of private-musical partnership as a prerequisite for the withdrawal of Ukrainian historical cities to the global tourist market. Vadim Truhan, Director of the Coordination Bureau of the European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (September 2008-May 2010), shared his own experience of effective organization on the field of information measures from the point of view of the central government.
During the discussion of the cooperation of the authorities and the public in the eastern and northern regions of Ukraine, Serhiy Tkachenko, Chairman of the Board of Donetsk Regional Organization of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, shared his experience of effective work in Donetsk. Oleksandr Khoruzhenko, Director of the Center for Research of Regional Policy, Member of the Sumy Regional Council, spoke about the peculiarities of cooperation of local authorities and civil society in Sumy region. Irina Sinenik, mayor advisor, Chernihiv City Council, and Gennady Maxak, President of the Non -Governmental Analytical Center “Polissya Fund of International and Regional Research”, presented positive examples and problems for community development in Chernihiv region from the position of authorities and public.
In the course of discussing the southern and western perspectives of increasing the efficiency of government and the public at the local level, Anatoliy Boyko, the head of the Odessa Regional Organization of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, spoke about the cooperation of his organization with local authorities, emphasizing topical problems of organization and holding of local elections. Yuriy Yaremchuk, Deputy Head of the Krasnopil District State Administration, shared the experience of joint effective work of representatives of government and NGOs on the example of the Krasnopil district of Sumy region. Svyatoslav Sheremeta, director of the Western Ukrainian Center for Political Research, deputy of the Lviv Regional Council, focused on the problematic moments of cooperation of the community and national authorities on the example of Lviv region.

In discussing the problems and prospects of community development, Robert Khorolsky, legal expert of the Ukrainian-European Advisory Center on Legislation (UEPLAC), provided expert comment on the problems and prospects of cooperation between local authorities and the public. Oleg Demchuk, coordinator of the social and political movement, deputy of the Khmelnytsky Regional Council, on the example of the city of Kamianets-Podilsky presented a vision of successful use of local resources for the development of the region. Valery Veremchuk, Head of the Lviv City Organization People’s Movement of Ukraine, Member of the Central Lead of the People’s Movement of Ukraine, Member of the Lviv City Council, told about the peculiarities of work for the welfare of citizens in Lviv. Vitaliy Bogdanov, a deputy of the Kherson city council of the 5th convocation, focused on the abuse of local authorities in Kherson region, showing 2 videos to the participants about this. Ivan Sagan, Mayor of Gorodok (2006-2010) (Lviv region), shared his experience in his work as a mayor, emphasizing the importance and problem of effective cooperation of the authorities and the public at the basic level. Oleksandr Solontay, an expert of the Institute of Political Education, referring to the example of Transcarpathia, emphasized the importance of the active position of local authorities to protect the interests of citizens.
Finally, the participants discussed and approved the draft document “Governmental Principles of Effective Cooperation of the authorities and the public at the local level”, which summarized the key approaches to the development of policy in cooperation of local authorities and the public. It was decided to refine the document and extend it in the communities.
The most debatable issues raised during the conference were the problems of ensuring the transparency of local authorities, their willingness and opportunities to cooperate with the public, abuse of the local authorities by their powers, the effective use of specific resources of certain regions, ensuring proper information support of the authorities and the public.
The conference was attended by graduates of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies, who represented the central and local authorities, as well as organizations of civil society of Donetsk, Transcarpathia, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa region, Sumy region, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv region.
According to the results of the conference, the methodological manual “Best Practices of Cooperation of Authorities and the Public at the Local Level in Ukraine” will be prepared, which will summarize the issues discussed during the event. The participants of the conference have decided to create a club of local democracy to discuss topical issues of local importance in different regions of Ukraine, as well as to exchange.
Conference program
List of conference participants
“Guidelines for effective cooperation between government and public at the local level” (document)

Elena Chebanenko “Leadership Principles of Effective Cooperation of the authorities and the public at the local level” (presentation)

Vadim Truhan «Organization on places of information events. Experience of the Central Power ”(Presentation)