The Parliamentary delegation headed by First Vice-Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the High-Level Dialogue

The Parliamentary delegation headed by First Vice-Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the High-Level Dialogue "Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward in the Postwar Period"

Press Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Published on 04 July 2024, at 18:27

On 2-3 July, the Council of Europe hosted a High-Level Dialogue "Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward in the Post-War Period" in Strasbourg, which was attended by the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko. The main topics of the dialogue were good democratic governance in Ukraine and the way forward in the post-war period.

According to the head of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation, the First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko, this is an extremely important event for Ukraine's European integration path and strengthening democracy in our country.

“During the dialogue, we focused our attention on discussing the prospects for reforms, improving and bringing our legislative framework in line with European standards. In particular, decentralisation and elections were the key topics raised with our colleagues, which are fundamental aspects of democracy, especially in the post-war period,” said Oleksandr Korniienko.

In his turn, Bjørn Berge, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, opened the Dialogue by emphasising: "We have a common understanding, the will and all the means to carry out reforms that will ensure strong, stable and democratic institutions in Ukraine for the long term and that will benefit all Ukrainians."

Oleksandr Korniienko said that following the third Dialogue, he and Bjørn Berge signed a Joint Declaration, which, in particular, states:

- Condemnation of the large-scale russian invasion of Ukraine.

- Supporting the achievement of a sustainable and just peace based, in particular, on the Ukrainian peace formula.

- The leading role of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the decentralisation process is highly appreciated.

- The value of cooperation between Ukraine and the Council of Europe in the stable progress of our country on its way to the EU is underlined.

Convinced that discussions aimed at ensuring the exercise of voting rights and other political and derivative rights in the context of post-war elections will make an important contribution to the organisation of safe, free and fair elections as soon as possible.

Vitalii Bezhin, the Member of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative and Territorial Structure and Local Self-Government of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Building, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, said that the important topics discussed during the meeting were the continuation of decentralisation and the restoration of self-government in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. "The parliamentary committee presented its vision of these processes, which coincides with the vast majority of representatives of Ukrainian local governments, in particular, for the territories with long-standing occupation," the MP said. He also stressed that the decentralisation reform is one of the main priorities of the Ukrainian Parliament.

In her turn, Larysa Bilozir, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Administrative Services and Administrative Procedures, said that the Dialogue had clearly outlined the steps and actions to be taken by the end of 2024 to significantly improve the self-government system in Ukraine. "Ukraine highly values its cooperation with the Council of Europe, which has been supporting democratic reforms in our country for many years. I am convinced that cooperation with the Council of Europe will be the key to holding democratic elections and will contribute to the further development of Ukraine as a state governed by the rule of law," the MP said.

Summing up the results of the Dialogue, Oleksandr Korniienko assured that the Ukrainian Parliament would continue to work hard on draft laws related to democratic governance, local self-government development and post-war elections. "Discussing these topics now, given the current challenges, will definitely contribute to the successful implementation of post-war elections and strengthening of local self-government bodies," he said.

The First Vice-Speaker expressed his gratitude to the organisers for holding the Dialogues at the Council of Europe: "Together, we are taking important steps, in particular, to improve the legislative framework in the field of multi-level governance in Ukraine."

In conclusion, Oleksandr Korniienko said: "At the same time, I would like to thank the Ukrainian people, the Heroes who continue to defend democratic and European values and our Ukraine. Any achievement is thanks to them and for their sake – for the successful future of our country."

For reference:

The High Level Dialogue (the Dialogue) was launched at the Council of Europe's headquarters in November 2022. Its goal is to discuss democratic governance reforms in Ukraine and to reach a broad agreement on further actions to improve the legislative framework in the light of European standards and Ukraine's status as an EU candidate country.

The delegation also includes members of the Ukrainian Parliament: Roman Lozynskyi, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Alina Zagoruiko, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Vitalii Bezhin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative and Territorial Structure and Local Self-Government of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, Larysa Bilozir, the Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Administrative Services and Administrative Procedures of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Viacheslav Rubliov, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regional Policy and Local Budgets of the Committee on the Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Oleksii Kuznetsov, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Rights and Freedoms of Persons Violated as a Result of the Temporary Occupation, Internally Displaced Persons and Persons Missing in Special Circumstances of the Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations; Oleh Syniutka, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Supporting the Activities of People's Deputies of Ukraine of the Committee on Rules, Deputy Ethics and Organisation of Work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Mykhailo Sokolov, the Member of the Committee on Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning.

The Parliamentary delegation headed by First Vice-Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the High-Level Dialogue "Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward in the Postwar Period"