On 10 October, as part of the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain), elected representatives of Armenian, Moldovan and Ukrainian local authorities shared good practices on transparency, accountability, and citizen participation with peers and civil society of Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans.

The event, co-organised by the Congress and the OGP Secretariat, served as a platform for dialogue and experience sharing among like-minded local open government leaders to foster resilience and enhance the quality of life in their communities.

The mayor of Leova (Republic of Moldova), the mayors of Orzhytsia and Chuhuiv, and the deputy mayors of Zviahel, Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia (Ukraine) presented key processes and results that have nurtured a democratic culture in their communities, including through digitalisation of municipal services, participatory budgeting, citizens’ assemblies, youth engagement, and inclusion of displaced persons in decision making.

They highlighted that co-creating local initiatives and reforms with citizens increased the ownership of locally led processes, boosted participation, and ultimately raised trust in the public authority. The local elected representatives also stressed that the regular involvement of citizens in local affairs, and communication with them, is essential to bolster democracy and fight mis- and disinformation.