Local governments play a crucial role in improving the living conditions of communities, including members of national minorities, by creating quality services in the fields of education, health care, social security, etc. and ensuring proper access for them for all segments of the population.

Based on the principles of cooperation over the past three years, the Council of Europe has implemented the project "Protection of National Minorities, including Roma, and Minority Languages ​​in Ukraine", by supporting authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders to strengthen the protection of national communities, including Roma, in Ukraine. The new stage of project implementation focuses on strengthening the democratic participation of national minorities at the local level through the mediation and activities of local action groups according to the methodology of the ROMED-2 program.

On April 9, 2021, an online event "Promoting the democratic participation of national minorities at the local level" was held, during which the main tasks and stages of the Local Initiative Groups program were presented, as well as local authorities that joined the program. The event was attended by representatives of central and local executive bodies, representatives of international organizations in Ukraine and organizations for the protection of the rights of national minorities.

The project was joined by: Melitopol City Council, Nizhyn City Council, Lutsk City Council, Perechyn City Council, Turyi Remety Village Council, Krasnosilska Village Council.

Such activities, with the active participation of local self-governments (LSGs) include, but are not limited to, the introduction of the following measures, namely:

• assisting in the establishment of a local action group based on the principles of good democratic governance in accordance with Council of Europe standards;
• creation and implementation of an effective mechanism of interaction among local selfgovernment bodies, representatives of non-governmental organizations and local communities of national minorities in order to develop and implement a joint action plan, including both shortterm and long-term plans to improve the situation of national minorities;
• participation of local selfgovernment specialists and representatives of public organizations in trainings, working meetings, consultations, round tables, other events planned within the project;
• development of a local selfgovernment project initiative that can be implemented in a selected community with the support of the Council of Europe.

Within the framework of the mentioned project, the Council of Europe will provide expert, methodological support in the development of local action plans for inclusion of national minorities, including Roma communities in accordance with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2022.