News co-operation Ukraine
Congress members committed to protecting the rights of the children of Ukraine
The situation of the children of Ukraine was at the heart of the debate of Congress members on Tuesday 26 March. Daria Herasymchuk, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation, detailed the disruption to children’s rights to safety, health, and education caused by the...
Two years of war: Council of Europe Congress calls for greater support to Ukraine
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted on 26 March 2024 a Declaration on thesecond anniversary of the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, presented by Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, L, ILDG) and Gunn-Marit Helgesen (Norway, R, EPP/CCE). The...
Congress welcomes recommendations of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine
Addressing the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine , in Mons (Belgium) on 19 March 2024, Congress President Marc Cools reiterated the Congress’ continuous support to Ukraine, and called for a decentralised approach to its recovery, in line with the principles...
10 years of Crimea’s illegal annexation: Statement by the Congress President
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: “Ten years ago, on 16 March 2014, the illegal referendum in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, organised at Russian gunpoint, set off a spiral of violence leading...
Congress supports de-occupied and temporarily occupied communities of Ukraine
The newly established Committee for the development of de-occupied and temporarily occupied communities of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) held its first meeting in Kyiv, on 12-13 March 2024, with the participation of the Chair of the Congress Current Affairs Committee, Bryony Rudkin...
Congress President condemns plans for Russian presidential elections in occupied Ukrainian regions
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: “I strongly condemn the plans by the Russian Federation to organise presidential elections in the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine.” “The illegal conduct...
New Council of Europe Opinion on the draft law on the reform of Local State Administrations in Ukraine
The new Council of Europe’s Opinion on the draft law “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Local State Administrations” and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Reforming Territorial Organisation of Executive Power in Ukraine” was released on 21 February 2024. The document was prepared by the...
Ukrainian cities and regions: courage and resilience in the face of the invasion
In the days preceding 24 February 2024 – two years since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, members of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress share their testimonies of remarkable courage and resilience in resisting the brutal invasion and serving their...
Two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: Declaration of the Congress Bureau
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Marc Cools, made the following statement today: “24 February 2024 will mark two years since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On this occasion, the Congress Bureau adopted a Declaration in which it reiterated...
Congress supports ten Ukrainian municipalities in rights-based inclusive decision-making
Ten local authorities from eight Ukrainian oblasts celebrated the launch of their local initiatives to implement a human rights-based approach and open government principles at local level, during a workshop on 14-15 February in Lviv, Ukraine. A peer workshop organised as part of the Congress...