On 26 May, the Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional Development and Urban Planning held a presentation of the study “Oversight Functions of Starostas”, prepared at its request by the Swedish-Ukrainian programme Polaris “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” and the NGO DESPRO. The research was conducted to assess the legislative framework supporting the oversight functions of starostas and to analyse challenges related to the practical implementation of these functions.
Nearly 2,400 starostas and over 1,400 other representatives of local self-government from different regions of Ukraine participated in the survey that formed the basis of the study.
The analysis of respondents’ answers highlighted a number of challenges related to the exercise of oversight powers by starostas, in particular:
• the definition and scope of oversight;
• the object of oversight;
• forms of starosta participation in oversight activities;
• the mechanisms for assigning oversight functions to starostas and implementing the results;
• potential conflicts of interest when carrying out oversight responsibilities.
During the presentation, participants discussed the problems identified in the study and shared their views on the proposed recommendations, including:
• the need to clearly define the legal standing of starostas in exercising oversight powers, as well as the entity responsible for assigning such powers;
• recognising objects of joint communal ownership of territorial hromadas as a subject of oversight by starostas;
• regulating the mechanisms and forms of starosta participation in oversight, including the conditions of involvement, types and grounds for oversight, and implementation of its results;
• establishing the discretionary nature of oversight powers assigned to starostas.
Participants also discussed broader issues such as the role and position of starostas in hromadas, reform of the local electoral system to reduce party dominance in local councils, and ways to strengthen the resource capacity of starostas.
The event was held with the support of the Swedish-Ukrainian programme Polaris “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” and the NGO DESPRO.
The event gathered Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, representatives of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, national local government associations, domestic and international organisations, and starostas.
Presentation of the study “Oversight Functions of Starostas”»
