Some problems of decentralization policy in Ukraine
Restrictions and decentralization of power are one of the most urgent tasks of Ukrainian society. This is a prerequisite for minimizing risks from the concentration of functions and powers of the authorities, strengthening public control over the activities of authorities at all levels, and stimulating positive changes in the country through competition between territories. At the same time, the analysis of the content of official documents shows that the essence of decentralization is associated with a change in the current administrative and territorial structure of the country. Today, a frantic campaign on the destruction of the existing administrative and territorial division and the administrative formation of so-called united territorial communities is launched throughout the country under the slogans of decentralization, without separating resources, functions, rights and powers between the state, regional and local authorities. This campaign takes place in the absence of clear and transparent procedures of community associations and violates the principle of voluntary association of territorial communities. At the same time, elective bodies of local self-government are under considerable pressure from regional and district state administrations. In order to stimulate the merger processes, the central government offers state financial support in the form of budget subsidies and tax preferences. Since such support is subject to an annual review, this does not lead to the formation of a stable financial basis for the functioning of the associations of territorial communities. The process of formation of united territorial communities is accompanied by attempts to transfer most of the functions performed today by district authorities of central governmentto the level of these communities. Thus, the current administrative districts are crushing. This leads to the growth of the bureaucracy, the destruction of the existing district infrastructure, the provocation of the confrontation between the inhabitants of neighboring settlements, etc. Such a policy will lead to the following consequences: the destruction of the established system of relations between citizens, local self-government bodies and territorial bodies of state power; undermining of the organizational principles of the current system of social insurance, education and health functioning; compromising the idea of decentralization.