“Ukrainian local authorities have proven to the whole world that they are a cornerstone of resistance and a stability factor at the heart of the country’s resilience. They will be a key for Ukraine’s reconstruction and modernisation” stressed Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori, during the launching conference of the new Congress project in Ukraine held online on 21 February 2023.

Addressing Ukrainian project partners, he emphasised that the role of the Congress is to strengthen and foster genuine grassroots democracy which cannot be done without strong local authorities and communities. “We will be with our Ukrainian partners in this endeavour until the end of the war and beyond”, underlined the Secretary General. He welcomed the work of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) which made an outstanding effort in supporting their member communities in building their resilience”.

The Secretary General was complemented by the Chair of AUC and Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, as well as representatives of the Parliament and the Government, and members of the Ukraine’s delegation to the Congress, who presented their main priorities, ambition and vision for enhanced local self-government. They outlined the challenges they face and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening resilience of all public institutions both at national and local level. Participants exchanged on prospects for further decentralisation and improvement of legislative framework for local self-government, plans for digital transformation, policies related to youth and education, as well as improved protection of human rights and further promotion of open government principles at local level.

The event is organised as part of the project “Strengthening multi-level governance, democracy and human rights at local level in Ukraine” implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026. The project aims to strengthen the dialogue, partnership and consultation between different levels of government; enhance collaborative governance and citizen participation in line with the principles of local democracy and open government; and promote and guarantee the right to equality and non-discrimination at local level, for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

For information : Project leaflet ENG / UKR

See also:

• Congress Declaration on the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine
• Russian Federation's war against Ukraine: special file
• Helping Ukraine - Cities4Cities