On 20^th April 2012 Swiss-Ukrainian Project “Decentralization Support in Ukraine” (DESPRO) and Coordination Centre for Economic Reforms under the President of Ukraine have signed Memorandum on Mutual Understanding.

Within this Memorandum, Mrs. Oksana Garnets, DESPRO Senior Coordinator in Ukraine and Mr. Oleksandr Danylyuk, Director of Coordination Centre, identified the following cooperation priorities:

·       experience exchange in the sphere of local self-government reforms, including economic reforms in Ukraine;

·       improving national legislation related to territorial structure/institutionalization of power, local self-governing, regional development and inter-budget relations;

·       establishing the effective system for strategic planning of regional development;

·       introducing the contemporary approaches and financial tools for regional development support;

·       improving the effectiveness of communities’ financial and resource provision/security.  

According to Memorandum the Parties will cooperate in following areas:

·       developing and implementing joint programs and events on local self-governance, regional development, reforming inter-budgetary relations and decentralization;

·       developing and provision of expert conclusions on national regulations’ drafts;

·       involving Swiss experts to provide consultations/advice and experience and best practices exchange within above mentioned areas;

·       experience exchange and cooperation for learning European standards related to public servants and local self-government officials operation.