This event was organized by The European Commission for Democracy through Law (The Venice Commission), The OSCE Projects Coordinator in Ukraine, The Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, and The Election Law Institute.
The Conference included several Plenary Meetings to discuss matters of creating a Centralized Electoral Roll; setting up a Public Broadcasting System; strengthening the independence of State Institutions, and improving the Judicial System as a whole. Special reference was made to the fact that each country has its own individual electoral characteristics, and therefore it is extremely important to choose the ideal Ukrainian model of Electoral Legislation.
Taking part in the Opening of the Conference was The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatseniuk. He took note of the necessity of an Electoral Code for Ukraine. Included in this Code should be clear-cut tools for holding Referendums, alongside procedures for elections at Local and Regional levels.
Another matter of major significance, according to The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is that of Open Electoral Party Lists. 'Our aim is to create real political parties in the country, to reflect the will of the people, and not that of individual political players,' said Arseniy Yatseniuk. He remarked that the Electoral Legislation in Ukraine is being improved. 'We keep 'patching holes' in Legislative acts to accommodate the current situation, instead of elaborating on a Law. Parliament of the 6th Convocation will bring Ukrainian Legislation into the system,' he emphasized.
Jan Helgesen, President of The Venice Commission, presented a collection of the proceedings of The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR, relating to International standards for Elections and Referendums. 'Ukraine has shown real progress in adapting its Legislation and practice to ES standards. The early election in 2007 is evidence of this,' he remarked.
International experts consider that, ‘only some insignificant details remain, which will be eliminated, and within a year Ukraine will be able to set out on the final path to reforming its Electoral Legislation´.
'Many times I have been witness to the elections in Ukraine, and on each occasion I have seen an improvement, and on each occasion you learn something new', - commented Hanne Severinsen, representing The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Monitoring Committee.
European Delegates highly praised the aspirations of The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatseniuk, towards improving Electoral Legislation. 'I am pleased to hear Mr. Yatseniuk speaking of the Centralized Electoral Roll', noted Jan Helgesen, and he added: 'I believe that now there is concord in The Ukrainian Parliament'.