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. The Ukrainian delegation also includes MPs representing different political parties and factions; senior officials from the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, 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.

On Tuesday, 8 November, from 12h30 to 14h30 (CET), media are invited to the opening of the photo exhibition featuring 26 pictures from Ukraine at war will take place at the Palais de l’Europe (ground floor, cafeteria “Snack bar”).

On Wednesday, 9 November, at 11h15 (CET), Oleksandr Korniyenko, Viacheslav Nehoda and Oleh Didenko, as well as Claudia Luciani, Director of Human Dignity, Equality and Governance of the Council of Europe, will give a press briefing in a hybrid mode about the high-level dialogue and its conclusions. Media representatives can attend it in person in room 2 or join online here. Language regime: Ukrainian – English.

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 II – Democracy, 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”.