Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Regional Policy Volodymyr Groysman: Central Ministry Budgets Should Be Distributed Among Local Governments

Kyiv, March 11, 2014 – Changing the public administration system is the most important reform in Ukraine. The new government will delegate a portion of their powers to the regional authorities,

Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for Regional Policy, Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said during a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

“I am strongly opposed to concentration of budgets at the hands of central authorities,” Mr. Groysman said. “The current system is built on corruption and should be destroyed. Central authorities should create conditions where local communities can direct the funds they collect towards solving their current issues.”

According to Mr. Groysman, the new government will keep supporting existing programs launched by their political predecessors. “We need to break the system where someone can offer illegal services in exchange for payment”, Mr. Groysman explained. “We will not touch any programs that are actually working, for example, the mortgage support program.” To analyze the financial flows of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction, Mr. Groisman promised to commission an international audit.

Volodymyr Groysman has been recently appointed Vice Prime Minister for Regional Policy, Minister for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services in the interim government of Ukraine. Since 2006, he was Mayor of the city of Vinnytsia. He also served as vice president of the Ukrainian Cities and Local Communities Association where he was responsible for housing and communal services. He is educated in law and public administration.