On December 7, a public discussion of the comprehensive research of the draft strategy "Modernization of Ukraine. Defining Reform Priorities" took place in Lutsk as part of the campaign of the National Public Network for Reform Support. The organizers of the discussion were the Kyiv-based analytical center "Laboratory of Legislative Initiatives" and the "Center for Political Analysis and Electoral Consulting" from Lutsk. The event gathered about 40 experts, scholars, representatives of public organizations and political parties, local authorities, business, and mass media. Students of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University — future political scientists, international relations specialists, and economists — were also present as attendees at the public discussion. The expert discussion took place within the walls of this educational institution.
The draft strategy "Modernization of Ukraine. Defining Reform Priorities" was prepared by leading Ukrainian independent experts and became the basis for public discussion on the priorities of reforming Ukraine. The research was presented in Lutsk by: Roman Koshovyi (Lviv branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine), Vitalii Kravchuk (Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting), Yevhen Rozdorozhnyi (Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting), and Myroslav Marynovych (Ukrainian Catholic University). Volyn experts took an active part in the discussion of the project: Valentyn Malynovskyi, Candidate of Sciences in Public Administration, Head of the State Service Department in Volyn Oblast; Mykhailo Shelep, Head of the Association of Young Reformers; Taras Litkovets, political analyst of the Volyn branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine; Viktor Penko, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences, Head of the Institute for Analysis of State and Regional Policy; Mykhailo Shchur, President of the Oleh Chernetskyi Charitable Foundation; Orest Makhovskyi, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. The event was attended by well-known political figures in Volyn, in particular: Volodymyr Bondar, former head of the Volyn Oblast State Administration, deputy of the Volyn Oblast Council; Oleksandr Martyniuk, head of the oblast organization of the "Reforms and Order" party, deputy of the Lutsk City Council; Oleksandr Pyza, head of the oblast organization of the "Front of Changes" party.
Overall, during the discussion, representatives of the Volyn expert community favorably assessed the draft strategy "Modernization of Ukraine. Defining Reform Priorities" and expressed a desire to join the preparation of the final document. Certain provisions of the discussed strategy were subjected to constructive criticism. The most debatable issues turned out to be the reform of the electoral system and the administrative-territorial reform. Volyn experts were quite critical of the proposal to grant the status of civil servants to employees of education, healthcare, and culture, and also substantiated that such innovations would only harm the relevant categories of "budget sector employees." During the discussions, participants reached the conclusion that for stable political and socio-economic development in our state, it is necessary to concentrate efforts on forming an effective and engaged society. In addition, experts emphasized the decisive role of constitutional reform and the need for depoliticization and de-partization of the civil service. Also, during the discussion, sufficient attention was paid to tax and pension reform, and issues of spirituality and religion. All participants in the discussion agreed with the thesis that it is public organizations and the expert community that are called to become the driver of the necessary reforms in a situation where the authorities have practically withdrawn themselves from strategic planning of Ukraine's future development.
The National Public Network for Reform Support is an independent self-governing movement of civil society organizations of Ukraine, aimed at developing a strategy for the country's modernization and reform priorities, promoting reforms at all levels and in all branches of state power, and the participation of civil society organizations in national and regional campaigns for the implementation of reforms. The Network aims to unite Ukraine's leading analytical centers and individual experts and to organize the process of determining national and regional reform priorities, coordinating the strategy for Ukraine's modernization, reforming key spheres of public life, public administration, and the organization of the political process. In addition, the association is aimed at enabling numerous national networks and individual civil society organizations from all regions of Ukraine to find their place in the campaign to promote and support reforms.
The basis for the public discussion on the priorities of reforming Ukraine is the corresponding research prepared by leading Ukrainian independent experts at the initiative of the International Renaissance Foundation, with organizational support from the "Laboratory of Legislative Initiatives" and financial assistance from Pact Inc., the "UNITER" Program.
For details on the national campaign for discussion of the strategy "Modernization of Ukraine. Defining Reform Priorities," please contact the regional coordinator in the city of Lutsk, Mykhailo NAKHOD (mnakhod@gmail.com , 067 332-64-14 )
Full text of the research "Modernization of Ukraine. Defining Reform Priorities" -