The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not support draft law No. 6319 on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Bodies of Self-Organization of the Population.” Only 205 Members of Parliament voted in favor, which was not enough for its adoption.

This draft law was part of Ukraine’s commitments under the EU accession roadmap and aimed to update the rules governing bodies of self-organization of the population — including building, street, квартal, and neighborhood committees. Through these structures, residents can unite, address local issues, and take responsibility for the development of their communities.

The draft law was intended to simplify the creation of such bodies, establish clearer rules for their operation, increase transparency and accountability, and expand the ability of local communities to delegate certain powers to them.

Currently, the procedure for establishing these bodies remains complex and lengthy — it can take up to nine months. Moreover, local authorities can often block residents’ initiatives without explanation. At the same time, bodies of self-organization of the population are an important tool for civic participation and a mechanism for influencing change at the local level. As part of the decentralization reform, they also lay the foundation for overcoming paternalism and strengthening local democracy.

Maksym Latsyba, Head of the Civil Society Development Program at the Ukrainian Independent Center for Political Research, noted: “Draft law No. 6319 (amendments to the law ‘On Bodies of Self-Organization of the Population’) simplifies registration procedures for these bodies and enables community residents to have their own voice in issues related to territorial development and service quality. The draft law would be especially useful for residents of small villages. Where administrative consolidation leads to the disappearance of village councils, these bodies become a solution. People could self-organize and continue to build relationships with local authorities.”

Despite the failed vote, the need to update legislation in this area remains. The development of local democracy directly depends on citizens’ ability to organize and influence decision-making in their communities.

This material was published within the framework of the project “Democratic Integration, Resilience, and Engagement” (Ukraine-DARE), implemented by Democracy Reporting International (DRI) in cooperation with the Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition and the Centre of Policy and Legal Reform, with financial support from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. The project aims to support the approximation of Ukrainian legislation to EU standards, foster dialogue on challenges to democracy in Ukraine during wartime, and promote youth civic engagement. The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.