Regional Governance in Norway and Ukraine

A new KS report presents a comparative overview of how Norway and Ukraine organise governance at the regional level. The report builds on input from a recent seminar that brought together Norwegian and Ukrainian stakeholders to discuss regional structures, challenges and reform needs. Its purpose is to provide a shared knowledge base that can support future cooperation between regions and municipalities in both countries.

Bridging Regions_English version

Bridging Regions_Ukrainian version

Different systems, similar ambitions

Norway and Ukraine both operate multi-level governance systems, but with significant differences in how power is distributed. Norwegian county councils have a broad mandate, their own executive structures and strong responsibilities in areas such as upper secondary education, public transport, regional development and culture.

Ukraine’s oblast and rayon councils are elected bodies but have limited executive authority, as most implementation rests with state administrations or – under martial law – regional military administrations. This creates structural imbalances and makes democratic oversight more difficult.

Despite these differences, both countries face the task of strengthening regional governance, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and ensuring consistent service delivery across regions.

Ukrainian reforms at a critical stage

Ukraine has undergone major decentralisation reforms since 2014, including territorial consolidation, fiscal reform and greater autonomy for local governments. At the regional level, however, important elements are still unfinished. The report highlights challenges such as unclear role division between elected councils and state administrations, limited financial autonomy and the administrative complexities reinforced by wartime conditions.

Reforms proposed in the Ukraine Plan and by the Council of Europe – such as establishing independent executive bodies for elected councils and transitioning to a modern prefect model – aim to strengthen democratic regional governance.

Models for regional-level cooperation

The report outlines four possible institutional cooperation models between Norwegian and Ukrainian regional authorities. These range from collaboration between county councils and Ukrainian local governments, to partnerships between elected bodies at the regional level, cooperation between state representatives, and joint dual-structure arrangements.

Each model offers different strengths. Some focus on capacity building and peer-to-peer learning on specific services, while others target governance reforms, democratic accountability and strategic development.

A shared knowledge base for future engagement

The report is intended as a practical resource for regional authorities in both countries. It provides comparative insight, highlights reform pathways and outlines cooperation structures that can support Ukraine’s long-term goals while offering Norwegian counties valuable perspectives on regional governance under pressure.

At a time when resilience, democratic legitimacy and institutional capacity are more important than ever, regional authorities in Norway and Ukraine have much to learn from each other.

The report is available in both English and Ukrainian.