A high-level Ukrainian delegation, comprising representatives from the Central Election Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, undertook a three-day working visit to London aimed at fostering peer-to-peer exchanges with UK authorities and deepening bilateral cooperation on election matters. The visit was organised in close coordination with the UK Electoral Commission and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with the support of the Council of Europe*.
A key outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Electoral Commission and the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, marking a significant step towards strengthening institutional ties and collaboration on election-related matters.
During the visit, the two electoral commissions engaged in in-depth discussions covering a wide range of issues, including mis- and dis-information in elections, out-of-country voting, voter education and public awareness raising, and political finance regulation. Special emphasis was placed on the legal and operational frameworks required to facilitate Ukrainian citizens residing or staying in the UK to participate in Ukraine’s post-war elections.
The Ukrainian delegation also held a series of meetings with other UK authorities, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other government departments. Along these meetings, the Ukrainian delegation exchanged with election officials and administrators from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as representatives of Royal Mail. The discussions focused on ensuring integrity of elections through both physical and cyber security, countering mis/disinformation and foreign interference, managing out-of-country voting, and sharing good practices in protecting democratic processes. UK representatives shared valuable insights from recent electoral processes across the country.
Throughout the exchanges, the Ukrainian delegation explored the UK’s legal and operational framework for out-of-country voting and gained valuable insights from the recent experience of the Republic of Poland in organising large-scale out-of-country voting for Polish citizens in the UK. These discussions were further enriched through fruitful dialogue with representatives of the Ukrainian community organisations in the UK.
This visit represents a significant step in strengthening Ukraine’s electoral resilience and institutional capacity, drawing on the UK’s extensive experience in election administration, public engagement, and electoral security. It also reaffirms the Council of Europe’s continued commitment to supporting Ukraine in upholding democratic processes and ensuring the electoral rights of all Ukrainian voters, including those living abroad, in the post-war elections when the time comes.
*The visit was organised within the framework and with the support of the Council of Europe project “Supporting democratic post-war elections in Ukraine – Phase II”, implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023 – 2026.
