Mayor Vadym Boichenko has had a working visit to Brussels. He takes part in a meeting of the CIVEX Commission of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union. In particular, the Mayor of Mariupol discussed urban development and the role of local municipalities with Deputy Head of Division C2 of the Directorate General for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG Near) Willems Jeroen.
Vadym Boichenko said that Mariupol is on the path to democratic development. Due to cooperation with international partners and the adopted Development Strategy of Mariupol-2021, the New Municipality case was successfully implemented.
‘We have radically changed the work of local governments. The new municipality works on the principles of openness, transparency and accessibility. Mariupol introduces modern services, e-democracy tools and creates comfortable conditions for the provision of services. First, we were the first to open the largest administrative services center in the region, and this year the largest social office in Ukraine,’ the Mayor said.
The chosen course gave positive results. Mariupol is among the leaders in terms of transparency according to the version of Transparency International Ukraine. It is among the safest cities in Ukraine. It is the first to receive the title of ‘City of Solidarity’ for its active position in support and adaptation of IDPs. All this has helped Mariupol to attract more than EUR 160 million of investment in the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects for three years.
‘I believe that the future of Ukraine is in their cities. Today Mariupol is a city of new opportunities. For several years there has been a reset in all areas. Parks, schools, hospitals, sports grounds, cultural palaces are being updated. Universities and modern spaces open, housing and avenues are being reconstructed. Festivals of a national level are held and municipal transport is purchased. Through such positive changes, we show that Ukraine can have successful and prosperous future’, Vadym Boichenko said.