On 18 November 2025, the Rivne community in Ukraine held a Forum of local stakeholders to launch preparations for its upcoming citizens’ assembly. To be organised with the Congress support in spring 2026, the assembly will focus on the topic: “How can we make our community a place where young people want to stay and build their future?”

The Forum brought together 42 participants, including members of the Youth Council, students, representatives of municipal institutions, civil society organisations and educational establishments. Working in a world café format, participants explored key factors influencing youth outmigration, discussed how to make the community more attractive for young people, and identified what information the future assembly members will need to develop evidence-based recommendations for local authorities. Opening the event, Viktor Shakyrzian, Secretary of the City Council and Acting Mayor, emphasised the crucial role of youth in the community’s post-war recovery and long-term development.

In 2026, the Congress will support three citizens’ assemblies in Ukraine: in the City of Rivne, the Obolon District of Kyiv, and the Lviv Agglomeration. In October 2025, the respective Memorandums of Understanding with these local authorities were signed in Strasbourg.

The event was organised as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction”  for 2023-2026 and the project “Strengthening multilevel governance and local democracy to support Ukraine’s recovery”, implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.