Ukrainian young local leaders inspired by German Mayors to build enhanced local governance

Strasbourg, 15 November 2016 - Twenty young local leaders from Ukraine were inspired during the study visit to Strasbourg (France) and to Kappelrodeck (Germany) to further engage themselves in their local communities. During the meeting with Stefan Hattenbach, Mayor of Kappelrodeck, Jochen Paleit, Mayor of Kappel-Grafenhausen, and Matthias Gutbrod, Mayor of Kippenheim, open discussions were held on the role of Ukrainian leaders, the responsibilities of local authorities, citizen engagement, relations with local media and the civil society, as well as on ethics and transparency in local politics.

In parallel, they participated in the 2016 World Forum for Democracy  and exchanged views with the Ambassador Dmytro Kuleba, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, and with representatives of the Commissioner for Human Rights and of the European Court of Human Rights.

This study visit was organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, from 7 to 10 November 2016, as a follow-up to a series of regional seminars on local and regional democracy. These activities are implemented within the project “Promoting local democracy in Ukraine”, as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2015-2017. Young local leaders are local councillors, employees of local authorities, representatives of civil society organisations and of the media sector ageing from 18 to 35.

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.

Contact:

Marité Moras, Head of the Co-operation Activities Unit, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 33

Svitlana Gryshchenko, Project Manager, Council of Europe Office in Kyiv, Tel: +380 96 340 13 83