Lviv Agglomeration as an Example of Successful Cooperation
The Lviv agglomeration was named an example of cooperation between a large city and smaller communities. This was stated by Germany’s Special Representative for Decentralization, Georg Milbradt. He recently visited Lviv to discuss issues of decentralization in Ukraine, the development of local self-government, and the need for legislative changes to ensure adequate powers for united communities.
“Your country needs to think and find ways to rebuild after the war now,” he said. He emphasized that Ukraine has good potential for this: “You have a good, and one of the best examples of how to do this. We see your agglomeration as a huge element of improvement and an example of how a big city can work with smaller communities. Therefore, it is important that other cities also unite into agglomerations.”
Positive Development Dynamics
Georg Milbradt noted that the development dynamics of the Lviv agglomeration are positive. He called the decentralization reform almost the only successful one in Ukraine. “It needs to be developed and opportunities harnessed,” the foreign guest emphasized.
However, legally, the agglomeration does not have any special powers and thus no preferences from the state. Although any association is a good platform for communication and solving common issues—education, spatial planning, transport, the potential of local self-government, especially in terms of staffing, is a source for the state’s development, noted Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi.
“We are working, preparing joint projects, and this is a good example for all of Ukraine. Lviv invests the most in education. Because supporting and developing education is the key to positive changes in the future,” Andriy Sadovyi emphasized.
Currently, the Lviv agglomeration cannot operate at full capacity, as most of the city’s funds are directed towards supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.