Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils (UAROR) has been granted full voting membership of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA). The decision was approved at the ALDA General Assembly 2026, where the membership agreement was also officially signed.

Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of UAROR, shared this news.

In her words, membership in ALDA opens up new opportunities for Ukrainian regions to develop international cooperation, participate in European initiatives and represent the interests of communities at the international level.

‘For Ukrainian regions, this presents new opportunities to develop international partnerships, participate in European initiatives, and promote the interests of communities at the international level,’ noted Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko.

During the ALDA General Assembly, the participants discussed issues relating to the democratic resilience of communities, the development of international partnerships, youth participation in local self-government, the use of modern digital tools, and new approaches to the development of local democracy.

A special event during the gathering was the opening of the Centre of Expertise on Participatory Local Democracy, attended by ALDA leadership, representatives of the European Parliament, and partner organisations from different countries.

The President of UAROR also emphasised the importance of the presence of Ukraine on the international stage, not only in the context of the war, but also as a state with its own unique experience in ensuring community resilience and the functioning of local self-government in crisis conditions.

‘For me, as President of UAROR, it was important that Ukraine speaks at such events not only about the challenges of war, but also about its own experience of community work in crisis conditions,’ she emphasised.

Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko expressed gratitude to Nataša Vučković, ALDA President, Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General, and European partners for their support of cooperation with Ukrainian local self-government.

For reference

ALDA (European Association for Local Democracy) is one of Europe’s leading networks in local democracy, civic participation, and international municipal cooperation.

The organisation was established in 1999 on the initiative of the Council of Europe. ALDA brings together local and regional authorities, associations of local governments and civil society organisations from different European countries and neighbouring regions.

ALDA implements international projects in local democracy, governance, civic participation, youth policy, digital transformation, gender equality, and support for the democratic resilience of communities. The organisation actively cooperates with the institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe.