At the pre-Ukraine Recovery Conference in Verona, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe emphasised the central role of local and regional authorities in rebuilding Ukraine. Speaking across two key panels, Congress representatives highlighted how empowered cities and communities are vital to recovery, innovation, and democratic resilience.

Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori underscored the urgency of finalising decentralisation reforms and emphasised the existing strong political will and leadership in this endeavour. “The Congress works hand in hand, on a daily basis with the Ukrainian authorities at national and local level, especially on an update of the Concept of the Decentralisation Reform, a pivotal document that outlines a long-term vision for Ukraine’s system of multilevel governance” he stressed.

Véronique Bertholle (France, SOC/G/DP) and Amelie Tarschys-Ingre (Sweden, ILDG), co‑rapporteurs for the Congress’ report on recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine, noted that local authorities must be at the forefront of efforts to rebuild not just infrastructure, but also democracy and local communities. They also stressed the need for a human-centred, inclusive, transparent and sustainable development approach in the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine, in line with the recently adopted Congress declaration.

The Congress’s delegation also held a bilateral meeting with Oleksiy Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister on Ukraine’s Recovery and Minister of Communities and Territories Development, as well as with the mayors of Lviv and Vinnytsia, reaffirming the Congress’s unwavering support to Ukraine since the outset of the war, as well as readiness to continue assisting local self-government reforms.