The Government of the Russian Federation at a meeting on Thursday, November 9, supported a draft resolution that gives the Ministry of Economic Development the authority to coordinate international relations of municipalities.
Recall that in August 2023, the President of Russia signed a federal law on the procedure for interaction of Russian local self-government bodies with foreign partners. The Law establishes the powers of local self-government bodies in the field of international and foreign economic relations. According to it, Russian municipalities can hold meetings and consultations with foreign partners, conclude agreements with them, as well as participate in the activities of international organizations of inter-municipal cooperation. A special condition for the development of international relations is stipulated – they must be carried out by municipalities exclusively to resolve issues of local importance.
According to the Government decree, the responsibilities of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia will include the formation and implementation of a unified state policy to regulate international relations of municipalities, as well as keeping detailed records of agreements concluded between regional municipalities and their foreign partners.
As Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Volvach explained, the new law on international relations of municipalities “consolidated the powers of federal, regional and municipal authorities in the field of international and foreign economic relations, focusing on contacts with friendly countries.” “With the adoption of the law, the country managed to form a single vertical of state regulation of international relations,” he said.
The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia will develop a procedure for providing information on the foreign economic activity of local governments, the deputy minister said.
