The Committee leaders expressed their gratitude to the OSCE Project Coordinator for previous fruitful cooperation with the Committee in the sector of development of local and regional democracy and the electoral law.
Davyd Zhvaniya stressed that “legislative activity of the Parliament of the seventh convocation and of the Committee has been activated, which gives the opportunity to continue implementation of plans regarding decentralization of power as well as development and strengthening of local government in Ukraine. Reaching European standards in the sphere of electoral law, local and regional development, and practical implementation of European instruments into Ukraine’s practice – are the key tasks of the parliamentary Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation”, said the people’s deputy.
The Chairman of the Committee noted that it is in the interest of the Committee “to reduce alienation between the government and the public; create conditions for public dialogue; get down to the regime of partnership and cooperation between the public and authorities to settle important social problems; lobby legislative initiatives in the part of local development; increase awareness of bodies of local self-government, their official and public sector representatives regarding real possibilities and mechanisms of influence on legislative process”.
D.Zhvaniya noted that highly professional expertise of national election legislation by the OSCE experts is important both for Ukraine and the Committee.
The Parties discussed the issues of terms of power of local self-government bodies, elected in 2010 and the upcoming elections; focused attention on one of the main agenda items, particularly, on elections to the Kyiv City Council and elections of Kyiv mayor.
The Committee Secretary noted that the experience of organizing and holding of parliamentary election in October 31, 2012 has proved that the problem lies not in the provisions of the Law “On Election of People’s Deputies of Ukraine”, but in their implementation.
According to him, the issue of refining the law on local elections and on elections of the President of Ukraine is the most urgent today. The people’s s deputy believes that refinement of the whole complex of election legislation through codification, i.e. adoption of Electoral Code of Ukraine, should be gradual.
Summing up, the Committee Chair D.Zhvaniya said that the Committee “can be the podium for discussion of draft legislative acts, round table discussions in regard to strengthening electoral processes in Ukraine, promotion of gender equality, and further development of local and regional democracy in the context of strategic course towards European integration”.