01/04/2026 Secretary General of the Assembly | Parliamentary support
PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou has highlighted growing trust between Ukrainian partners and the Council of Europe after nearly four years of high-level dialogue between them – and underlined the Assembly’s continued support as the country looks to reinforce its democratic governance after the end of the war.
The two-day event in Strasbourg – organised together with the Council of Europe Congress on Local and Regional Authorities and the Venice Commission – is the fifth such dialogue, and brings together government and parliamentary representatives from Ukraine, together with leading officials from its electoral bodies, security services, broadcasting regulators, local authorities and others. Key topics include multi-level governance, the transition from military to civilian administration and post-war elections.
“Over time, trust has grown,” the Assembly’s Secretary General underlined, opening the event. “We can see it in the way people work together: openly, sometimes with different views, but trying to move things forward.”
Focusing on elections, she said the question was not only when they could take place, but “whether they can be held in a way that people will see as fair and accept the result”. She recalled the Assembly’s position that elections held under martial law cannot meet democratic standards, and reiterated the steps that Ukraine could take to prepare for a post-war ballot, warning that preparation needs to be well under way, as “when conditions allow, there will be very little time”. She also welcomed the creation of parliamentary working group on this topic.
She also highlighted the PACE UP project – parliamentary support for the Verkhovna Rada as it addresses the challenges of the war and pursues European integration. “We will continue to stand alongside Ukraine and its people by supporting its institutions, contributing to its reforms, and accompanying its path towards a democratic and European future,” she concluded.
The High-Level Dialogue is held within the framework of two projects forming part of the Council of Europe’s 2023-6 Action Plan for Ukraine.
