An exhaustive list of issues to be managed by local self-governments in rural communities, municipal and urban territories is given in the Federal Law “On the general principles of local self-management in the Russian Federation”. At the federal level, the main directions for regional policy are given by the President. Sector-specific regional programmes and policies are developed and financed by sectoral ministries, and the annual budget for regional policy measures is approved by the Federal Assembly. Until September 2014, the Ministry of Regional Development was responsible for the implementation of policy measures, monitoring the effective use of budgetary funds, and inter-regional co-operation.