Regional training seminar for young local leaders in Odessa (Ukraine)

The Council of Europe Congress inspired young Ukrainians to take more active part in the life of local communities

Strasbourg, 16 December 2014 – Nineteen young Ukrainians between the ages of 20 and 35 had discussions with members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and experts on the occasion of a regional training seminar held in Odessa (Ukraine) from 9 to 11 December 2014.

Volodymyr Udovychenko (Ukraine), Mayor of Slavutych, Liisa Ansala, a member of Rovaniemi municipal council in Finland, and Mairi Evans, a member of Angus Regional Council, Scotland, United Kingdom, shared with the young people their experience as local elected representatives, in particular on the practical implementation of the principles of local and regional democracy.

Liisa Ansala and Mairi Evans exchanged their experience with the participants of the seminar on electoral campaigns they conducted. Liisa Ansala highlighted key factors for successful local campaign: “Hard work, being honest with citizens and establishment of team are extremely important for a successful campaign”.

All participants were impressed by energy and enthusiasm of the Mayor of Slavutych who focuses his governance on modern democratic approaches and uses European tools for citizens involvement into the local decision-making process.

During this seminar, the young participants put forward ideas for new initiatives which they could develop in their cities and regions, such as: public municipal councils, youth councils, open budgets, wider use of IT for citizen participation etc.

At the end of the seminar, most of the young participants declared that they are inspired to be more active in the public life of their communities, including participation in forthcoming local elections to be held in Ukraine in 2015.

The seminar was part of a series of regional workshops intended to promote a culture of democracy at local level by developing participants’ ability to exercise local responsibilities in an active and competent manner.

Ukraine ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 11 September 1997, and on 20 October 2011 signed its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority. The countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires that a minimum set of rights be honoured which are the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures that these principles are complied with.