On 27 November 2025, a high-level coordination event entitled ‘Action plan for protecting the rights of national communities – from first steps to real change’ was held in Kyiv, organised by the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) in cooperation with the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, as supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe.
Over 200 participants attended, including from the diplomatic corps and international organisations. The meeting focused on the practical implementation of the Action Plan for the Protection of the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Minorities (Communities) in Ukraine until 2027. The document was adopted in May 2025 and was the result of inclusive consultations with minority communities, of regional dialogues and of including recommendations from international partners, in particular the Council of Europe. The plan is also part of the demands related to Ukraine's negotiation process with the EU.
The event brought together high level state officials such as the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Kornienko, Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, Head of the State Service for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelensky, Director General of the Government Office for European Integration Oleksandr Ilkov, as well as EU and Council of Europe officials, as well as representatives of ministries and other state institutions at the central, regional and local levels, and civil society organisations of national communities.
Key highlights of the event
Deputy Prime Minister Kachka highlighted the importance of modernising minority policies:
"Ukraine must ensure the harmonious coexistence of all national communities and prevent the misuse of minority issues in hostile narratives. The Action Plan, developed with the Council of Europe, is a key tool for stabilising policy and fostering constructive dialogue with neighbouring countries."
Oleksandr Kornienko stressed the focus on implementation:
"Legislation on national communities has been updated in line with European standards. Our priority now is to ensure tangible results that improve the everyday lives of minority communities."
Human Rights Commissioner Lubinets underlined the Plan’s European dimension:
"Implementing the Plan is a European obligation; it must be a practical, ongoing task, not a mere formality."
Gediminas Navickas reiterated the EU perspective:
"Full implementation of the Action Plan is essential for Ukraine’s EU integration. A comprehensive, cross-policy approach and continuous dialogue with minority communities, supported by local authorities, are critical for equal opportunities and rights protection."
Initial results of the Plan’s implementation in 2025 include the preparation and launch of an institution of advisors on the Roma national minority at the regional and community levels, the start of work of a working group on the codification of the Romani language, the preparation of a draft order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ‘On the approval of the Strategy for the preservation and development of endangered languages’, and the development of amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine’ to clarify the mechanisms for the implementation of rights and bring legislation into line with Council of Europe standards.
Frontline regions highlighted the challenges of wartime, stressing the need for updated local policies and support for active national cultural societies in conflict-affected communities
The meeting was supported by the Joint Project of the European Union and the Council of Europe ‘Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine’ and the Council of Europe project ‘Supporting the reform of the national minority legal framework and the resilience of national minorities and Roma in Ukraine-Phase II’.
Follow us
Twitter