Odessa, 15 DECEMBER 2016, CONTEXT-Prichernomorie — Yesterday, December 14, at the Odessa City Hall held a meeting of the Odessa regional branch of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the correspondent of IA «Context-Prichernomorie» reports.

It was reported to the agency today, December 15, in the Department of Information of the Odessa City Council.

As noted in the Department, 14 December the meeting of Odessa regional platform of the Association of cities of Ukraine was held under the chairmanship of the Odessa mayor Gennady Trukhanov.

Urban and rural heads of Odessa region, as well as people's deputies of Ukraine elected from the region, gathered with the aim of developing joint policy in the sphere of local government.

The meeting focused on two issues: the budget provision of local governments in 2017, the merger of territorial communities in the course of the «Decentralization marathon 2016».

«We are faced with a common task — to develop the region, which means that each of its town. And no one better than us who live and work here people will not be able to identify and solve the problems of our region. In addition, today we also have strong support in the face of deputies representing the interests of the Odessa region in the Verkhovna Rada», — said G. Trukhanov, addressing the audience.

As a result of the meeting was prepared and submitted to the people's deputies of Ukraine a list of bills that supports the Association of Ukrainian Cities.

In particular, the draft Law of Ukraine «On service in local self-government»; changes to some legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the empowerment of local governments on land management and strengthening of state control over land use and protection; changes to some legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the voluntary association of local communities and others.

The participants of the meeting decided to hold in 2017 a regional platform meeting with the participation of People's Deputies of Ukraine at least once a quarter.