“The opening for signature of a new convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine is a concrete and meaningful fulfilment of the commitments made at the Reykjavik Summit,” said Congress President Marc Cools at a diplomatic conference organised by the Council of Europe and the Netherlands in The Hague on 16 December 2025.

“The Congress has always been, and remains, on the front line of implementing the commitments made to Ukraine, together with local authorities and Ukrainian communities — wherever they are — mindful of their vital role in resistance, resilience and the establishment of truth,” he continued.

"We are working closely with more than 1,600 Ukrainian local authorities and their representative associations. They provide a critical network for disseminating information about the Register of Damage for Ukraine, making it known and raising awareness of its practical and historical importance. This is an essential prerequisite for the Claims Commission to rule on claims and to establish the connection with breaches of international law. Building this process from the local to the international level is the only way to guarantee that victims will one day be able to access justice and reparation,” President Cools concluded.