Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: a High-level Dialogue in Strasbourg
What are the key achievements and current challenges of good democratic governance in Ukraine? What is the way forward in post-war period? How to ensure a smooth transition from the military administration under martial law to the civil administration? How to secure democratic environment for elections and to ensure electoral rights of citizens in post-war Ukraine?
A two-day high-level dialogue will begin on Tuesday 8 November, during the World Forum for Democracy in the Council of Europe Headquarters to discuss these and other related issues with participation of the Ukrainian national stakeholders and the Council of Europe officials and experts.
The objective of the dialogue is to reach broad agreement among the key national stakeholders as regards further actions to improve legal framework on multi-level governance and elections in light of the European standards and good practice.
The Ukrainian delegation is headed by the First Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Oleksandr KORNIYENKO, one of Ukraine's most prominent politicians. The Ukrainian delegation also includes MPs representing different political parties and factions; senior officials from the Ministry of Territorial Development, including the Deputy Minister Viacheslav NEHODA; representatives of the Central Election Commission led by its Chair Oleh DIDENKO; representatives of the four associations of local authorities, including two mayors.
For the past five years, the Council of Europe, through the projects implemented by its Centre of Expertise for Good Governance, has become a leading provider of policy and legal advice on the matters of local governance, decentralisation, public administration and territorial consolidation reforms in Ukraine. These reforms are recognised as the most successful ones, including by the EU and other international organisations.
The dialogue, initiated upon the request of the Ukrainian Parliament, is organised and facilitated by the Council of Europe Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity in co-operation with the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of local and regional authorities of the Council of Europe. It is organised within the framework of the joint initiative "Good democratic governance in Ukraine: moving forward in post-war context" launched earlier this year.
The activity is carried out within the framework and with the support of the Council of Europe projects on "Enhancing decentralisation and public administration reform in Ukraine" and "Supporting the transparency, inclusiveness and integrity of electoral practice and processes in Ukraine - Phase III" implemented under the Council of Europe adjusted Action Plan for Ukraine 2018 - 2022.
The Policy Advice on the Roadmap for Local Self-Government Recovery from the Consequences of the War was prepared by the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance, Department of Democracy and Governance, Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity, within the project "Enhancing decentralisation and public administration reform in Ukraine", in response to the request of the Specialised Parliamentary Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional and Urban Development.
The needs assessment report "Organisation and holding of elections in post-war Ukraine. Prerequisites and challenges" was prepared with the support of the Council of Europe project "Supporting the transparency, inclusiveness and integrity of electoral practice and processes in Ukraine - Phase III".
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War in Ukraine: Follow up
The Russian Federation's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, and the events that preceded the attack, notably the recognition by Russia of the so-called "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk has been at the centre of the Council of Europe's attention since the very start of the rising tensions. All along, all the institutions of the Organisation have reiterated their unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
Therecognition by the Russian Federation of the self-proclaimed "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities on 22 February 2022, and the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation two days later, on 24 February, have been condemned in the strongest possible terms by all leaders of the organisation. The Council of Europe reacted quickly to the flagrant violation of international law and its Statute: already on 25 February 2022, following an exchange of views with the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers decided to suspend the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe in accordance with Article 8 of the Statute.
On 1 and 4 March 2022, the European Court of Human Rights indicated interim measures to the Russian Federation under Rule 39 of its Rules, focusing on respect and guarantee of the right to life and other human rights enshrined in the European Convention.
The Court has called on Russia to refrain from military attacks against civilians and civilian buildings and vehicles within the territory under attack or siege by Russian troops, including residential premises,emergency vehicles and other specially protected civilian objects such as schools and hospitals, and to ensure immediately the safety of medical establishments, personnel and emergency vehicles. It has indicated that the Russian authorities should ensure unimpeded access of the civilian population to safe evacuation routes, healthcare, food and other essential supplies, rapid and unconstrained passage of humanitarian aid and movement of humanitarian workers.
The Council of Europe has also called on the Russian authorities to comply with the principles and values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law on its own soil.
On 15 March, the Parliamentary Assembly unanimously adopted an Opinion which considered that the Russian Federation can no longer be a Member State of the Organisation. Earlier on the same day, the Government of the Russian Federation had informed the Secretary General of its withdrawal from the Council of Europe, in accordance with Article 7 of the Statute of the Council if Europe and of its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.
On 16 March, at an extraordinary meeting, the Committee of Ministers decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that the Russian Federation would immediately cease to be a member of the Council of Europe, ending its 26 years of membership.