Poroshenko proposes constitutional changes for Donetsk, Lugansk

Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko proposed on 1 July 2015 several constitutional changes designed to give new powers to the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

The new powers trim presidential controls over the provinces and extend to local towns and councils the right to oversee how their tax revenues are spent.

However, the proposal - which still had to be approved by the parliament - did not include key demands of pro-Russian fighters in the separatist east, including the semi-autonomous status.

The Minsk agreement requires Ukraine to give autonomy to the rebel-held regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

• Primary Source

Euronews, 01.07.15: Ukraine unveils draft changes to Constitution http://www.euronews.com/2015/07/01/ukraine-unveils-draft-changes-to-constitution/

ESO: Background information: Agreed Statement of the Chair, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on the Foreign Ministers Normandy Meeting in Berlin, 13 April 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/agreed-statement-of-the-chair-foreign-minister-frank-walter-steinmeier-on-the-foreign-ministers-normandy-meeting-in-berlin-13-april-2015/

Ukraine: President of Ukraine: News, 01.07.15: President presented amendments to Constitution: Decentralization should unite society http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-predstaviv-zmini-do-konstituciyi-decentralizaciya-35579

EurActiv, 02.07.15: Russia ‘deeply concerned’ over Ukraine’s decentralisation plan http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/russia-deeply-concerned-over-ukraines-decentralisation-plan-315963

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