Invited to open a meeting of a new body – the Ukrainian Congress - created by President Zelenskyy to consult with Ukrainian local and regional authorities, the Council of Europe Congress stressed the importance of sustaining local democracy to ensure a full democratic recovery after the war. In the presence of President Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Shmygal, representatives of the Parliament, military and civil local authorities, Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress, welcomed the convening of the Ukrainian Congress on 30 July 2023.

He stressed that a dialogue between national, regional and local authorities is required by the Charter on local self-governance of which Ukraine is a signatory. Its article 4.6 states that local authorities must be consulted in due time and in an appropriate way in the planning and decision-making processes for all matters which concern them directly.

This dialogue will be ever so important in particular for the reconstruction and recovery of communities where municipalities, oblasts and their representative national associations will play a key role. The Council of Europe and its Congress will continue providing the needed support, through the ongoing high level dialogue and the design of a roadmap for an effective and Charter-compliant local self-governance in post-war Ukraine. 

Secretary General Mori took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress made up of 24 local and regional elected representatives and substitutes. “24 strong and committed women and men who help the Congress unite its efforts in supporting Ukraine secure freedom and democracy”, he concluded.