Fifty mayors, councillors and representatives from 12 large Ukrainian cities, as well as from the capital city of Kyiv, met to discuss the increasing role of big municipalities as engines for political, economic and cultural development. “Larger cities are shaping our future, absorbing more and more territory, increasing their political and economic power and thereby bringing new opportunities for citizens,” stated Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, President of the Congress, at the opening of the roundtable in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 3 July 2017.

“Only by joining efforts of local authorities and civil society, we will ensure that the  expectations from citizens are met,” underlined Vitaliy Klitshko, Mayor of Kyiv and President of the Association of Ukrainian Cities. "Kyiv City Council is actively applying best European practices to enhance transparency and standards of good governance in the capital city. In such a way we will ensure efficient decentralisation in Kyiv and also in other municipalities of Ukraine" noted Volodymyr Prokopiv, (Ukraine, EPP/CCE), Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress.

Members of the Congress and experts from Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ukraine shared views on governance and distribution of powers among national, city and district levels within metropolitan areas. Special focus was put on citizen participation and transparency as key prerequisites for political accountability and enhanced local democracy.

This thematic roundtable was organised in the framework of the project “Promoting local democracy in Ukraine”, which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2015-2017. It aims to improve the implementation of democratic principles in Ukraine, by enhancing the institutional and leadership capacities of local elected representatives (mayors and local councillors), and disseminating nation-wide good practices of local democracy.

Ukraine joined the Council of Europe on 9 November 1995, ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 11 September 1997 and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority on 2 September 2014. Countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter imposes compliance with a minimum number of rights and principles, which are the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures respect for these principles.

Contacts:

Marité Moras, Head of Unit, Co-operation and External Relations Department, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 33

Svitlana Gryshchenko, Project Manager, Council of Europe Office in Kyiv, Tel: +380 96 340 13 83