18 May 2017 – Kharkiv (Ukraine) – Outlining the principles enshrined in the European Charter for local self-government to 30 local councillors from the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lugansk regions, Marc Cools, Rapporteur on local and regional democracy in Ukraine (Belgium), stressed the need to further strengthen the implementation of the principle of subsidiarity in Ukraine. This was underlined by Yulia Svitlychna, Vice-President of the Congress (Ukraine), having added that: "Decentralisation ensures the transfer of financial resources and powers to the local level, therefore enhancing the responsibility of local councils. It is one of the successful reforms currently implemented in Ukraine".

The role and responsibilities of local councillors, the amalgamation process, and transparency and citizen participation were at the core of the debates during the three-day workshop organised by the Congress in Kharkiv. Additionally, exchanges were carried out between the participants and Andrew Boff, member of the Greater London Assembly (United Kingdom) on strategies to mobilise citizens at the local level.

The workshop was organised from 16 to 18 May 2017 in the framework of the project “Promoting local democracy in Ukraine”, which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2015-2017.

Ukraine joined the Council of Europe on 9 November 1995, ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 11 September 1997 and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority on 2 September 2014. Countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter entails compliance with a minimum number of rights and principles, which are the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures respect for these principles.

Contact:

Marité Moras, Head of Unit, Co-operation and External Relations Department, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 33