The other day, the founding meeting of the steering committee took place, at which they discussed the development strategy of the Lviv agglomeration. All involved communities took part in the meeting.
The main goal is to jointly develop the Lviv Agglomeration Development Strategy, primarily as a model for the post-war development of Ukraine as part of the EU and NATO. The Lviv agglomeration, according to Lviv Deputy Mayor for Urban Development Lyubomir Zubach, may become the first to be legalized in Ukraine.
The Lviv agglomeration should include the city of Lviv and 16 surrounding communities.
“These are self-sufficient communities, which, however, are a single integrated organism. 76% of residents of the agglomeration generally support cooperation between Lviv and neighboring communities. So says last year’s sociology. Therefore, it remains to formalize this idea.
What will give Lviv agglomeration official status? Money. Namely: funds for joint inter-municipal projects. The draft law “On agglomerations” is coming out, which has a high chance of being adopted. It provides for the voluntary association of surrounding communities and additional state financial stimulation. Roughly speaking, officially created agglomerations will receive additional money for the implementation of inter-municipal projects that are necessary and useful for all participants of the agglomeration. And this, unequivocally, improves the well-being of residents of all communities. First of all, we are talking about transport, waste management, environmental projects, spatial planning, water supply and drainage,” said Lyubomyr Zubach.
The official added that the topic of the Lviv agglomeration united everyone: Lviv and surrounding communities, Lviv OVA and the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine. “The Council of Europe became a kind of driver of the process. And this guarantees a high level of organization and expertise,” Lubomyr Zubach emphasized.