Peer Steinbrück – Member of the German Parliament, held the position of the German Federal Minister of Finance (2005-2009). Peer Steinbrück is one of the architects of the Euro rescue plan during the 2008 crisis. Between 2002 and 2005 he was the Prime Minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. He was the SPD candidate for Chancellor of Germany in the 2013 federal election.
Russia will exist after Putin and will continue being the neighbor of Ukraine and other countries. Therefore, we must discuss the possible future role of Russia and the question of European solidarity. And, in my opinion, the federalization of Ukraine is inevitable.
Why federalization? Because when the tasks and competences are transferred from higher to lower levels, it may be, that tax issues are being transferred – then these processes have an integrative character. The need to strengthen regional, municipal and local government – this is exactly what Ukraine needs … This is a very big problem that must be solved at different levels, and I think decentralization could help there.
We need to raise the level of income per capita in Ukraine, this is very important. And maybe there will be help from the World Bank, the IMF and, moreover, the very important strategy for cooperation. Ukraine occupies only the 144th position among all economies in the world. An effective administrative structure has to be installed. It is necessary that the means of assistance actually got to where they need to go. You also need to create a reliable system of jurisprudence.