Ukraine Reports on PACE Chairmanship: Developing Local Democracy

KYIV, Ukraine, November 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

During its chairmanship at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Ukraine introduced a number of measures to strengthen local democracies in the countries of Europe, as well as provide its citizens with broader opportunities to participate in local decision-making. Such was one of the three Ukraine's priorities while presiding at the PACE.

Foreign Minister Gryshchenko reported that during its PACE chairmanship Ukraine organized several events that carried substantial impact on the issue of developing local democracies both internationally and on the local level. These events include: International seminar on improvement of the standards in public ethic at local and regional levels (September 15, 2011), the session of the Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Kyiv (September 16, 2011), and International Municipal Hearings "The Development of Effective Governance at Local and Regional Level" (November 1-2, 2011).

The President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych paid a visit to the International Municipal Hearings where he specified his personal investment in the issue of regional development and urged Ukrainian local leaders to "gradually decentralize and transfer certain powers to the regions". "We must make the regions self-sufficient," noted the Ukrainian President.

Ukraine itself is putting a lot of effort in developing its local administration in order to secure an opportunity for its citizens to personally participate in the management of the state. Recently, Ukraine signed the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority. Ukraine ratified the said Charter in 1997; the new addition to the document secures the right of everyone within the jurisdiction of a local governing body to participate in the affairs of a local authority.

Furthermore, the Council of Europe's Action Plan for Ukraine 2011-2014 "A Partnership for Reform", presented this September, includes three programs for local democracy development in the country, according to Kostyantyn Gryshchenko. Local democracy is listed as one of the key sectors for intervention in the new Plan. This involves support for local government reforms, strengthening the institutional capacity of the local authorities, and strengthening leadership by locally elected representatives. The Plan aims to help Ukraine promote transparency and quality of local governmental services.