Effective and transparent recovery policy: public consultations held in Ukraine, results to be taken into account in drafting the country’s recovery legislation

Olena Shuliak, Chairwoman of the Committee for the Organization of the State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, in partnership with the NGO Institute Respublica held public consultations on post-war recovery of Ukraine.

This was discussed during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine.

According to Olena Shuliak, nearly a thousand people participated in the public consultations, including international partners, experts, representatives of local governments, businesses, associations, and various communities and social groups.

In particular, the public consultations raised the issues of priority and criteria for restoration of certain territories and facilities, monitoring of recovery projects, including through the DREAM system, effectiveness and implementation of compensation programs for damaged or destroyed housing, distribution of powers in the recovery process among government agencies, and citizen participation in recovery efforts.

Olena Shuliak noted that community residents and international partners emphasized that the first principle of recovery should be people-centered. In addition, international partners stressed the importance of taking into account the needs of different population groups.

Among the many important aspects of Ukraine’s recovery, the consultations also touched on an issue that is not currently included in the draft law “On the Principles of Ukraine’s Recovery”: giving priority to recovery projects in de-occupied and frontline areas.

“We have raised an issue that is not reflected in the draft law on recovery, but we are passing this data to the ministry and drawing their attention to the fact that our frontline territories, where it is quite difficult to work today, should give our businesses some preferences. Whether it is tax benefits or simplified procedures – from requirements for creating industrial parks to connecting to networks – businesses are saying that investor protection in these areas should be maximized. During the public consultations, we discussed the example of Kharkiv, where local taxes for businesses have been abolished. Businesses in Kharkiv do not pay property tax or land tax. This is also an example of how to support businesses in the frontline areas,” Olena Shuliak noted.

The results of the consultations were summarized in a report, which will be submitted to the Ministry of Recovery for further consideration of the proposals in the draft law “On the Principles of Ukraine’s Recovery”.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news