Ukraine: Workshop “City councillor: an everyday actor of local democracy” in Kyiv

Kyiv (Ukraine) 15 April 2016 - The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in partnership with Kyiv City Council, organised the workshop “City councillor: an everyday actor of local democracy” in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 15 April 2016. The goal of the workshop was to provide participants with the opportunity to exchange experience with European peers on the challenges faced by capital cities, and in particular on ways to define and lead successful policies, and inspire and involve citizens and stakeholders in a positive and effective manner.

The event which was held at the Kyiv City Council brought together over 80 participants - councillors of Kyiv City Council who were able to share experience with Congress members from European capital cities, as well as expert practitioners.

Congress members Volodymyr Prokopiv (Ukraine, NR), Andrew Boff (UK, EPP-CCE) and Sevdia Ugrekhelidze, (Georgia, EPP-CCE) presented experiences of their capital cities and contributed to discussions on the European Charter of Local Self-Government, distribution of powers, self-government models in capital cities, citizen engagement in decision-making, and ethical behaviour and transparency.

The participants were welcomed by the Vice-mayor of Kyiv Volodymyr Prokopiv, who noted the importance of sharing experience with colleagues and gaining access to best practices of local self-governance. Maria Ochoa-Llido, Head of Department, Co-operation and External Relations, greeted participants on behalf of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. She noted the unique opportunity that the Congress offers all countries that are signatories to the European Charter of Local Self-Government, enabling them to discuss and learn from the peers. . Professor Marco Olivetti described in detail the existing situation concerning the status of capital cities in Council of Europe member States and generated discussions on the issue of equally balancing functions of the capital city with the interests of the local community and local self-governance.

During the session on ethical standards and transparency, Andrew Boff, member of the Greater London Assembly, described the existing situation in London and noted that “even though most of the national governments want to take many decisions on their own, local democracy is the most important kind of democracy and the Charter is there to stand up for it”.

The issues of engaging citizens in decision-making and co-operation between the municipal council and civil society organisations was of great interest for participants, who had a chance to discuss the experience in Ukraine and learn from those in Georgia and Lithuania. They discussed the existing challenges they face as Kyiv city councillors and proposed possible initiatives to improve ethical behaviour and citizen participation in decision-making.

Ukraine joined the Council of Europe on 9 November 1995, ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 11 September 1997 and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority on 2 September 2014. Countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter imposes compliance with a minimum number of rights and principles, which are the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures respect for these principles.

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