07/07/2025 Parliamentary support
The fourth session of an ongoing high-level dialogue between the Council of Europe and Ukrainian partners took place in Lviv on 3-4 July 2025 on the topic of good democratic governance in Ukraine, with a focus on improving the legal framework in the country for multi-level governance and elections.
At the event, co-organised by PACE and the Council of Europe Congress, the Assembly’s Director of Committees Louise Barton highlighted that preparing for post-war elections is not only a legal and logistical undertaking, but also a democratic opportunity to strengthen public trust and the social contract.
She welcomed the proactive steps already taken by the Verkhovna Rada and the Central Election Commission, notably the elaboration of legislative proposals and assessment criteria to guide future elections.
Reaffirming the Assembly’s long-term engagement, she said: “The Parliamentary Assembly is proud to stand with Ukraine in this effort – before, during and after the elections – because we believe in Ukraine’s democratic future, and we know it is being shaped in rooms like this, by conversations like these, and by the commitment you demonstrate every day.”
The event brought together key Ukrainian stakeholders from the Verkhovna Rada, the Central Election Commission and the Ministry Communities and Territorial Development, as well as members of parliament from different parties and representatives of local authorities, oblasts and cities.
It is the fourth such “high-level dialogue” organised since November 2022 within the programme “Strengthening multilevel governance and local democracy to support Ukraine’s recovery” and the project “Supporting democratic post-war elections in Ukraine – Phase II” as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine.
