A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, led by Cecilia Dalman-Eek, President of the Chamber of Regions, has carried out an official visit to Kyiv, with the aim of strengthening political dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities at all levels, and to advance Congress support to Ukraine's democratic resilience, decentralisation reform, and recovery.
"The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has stood in unwavering solidarity with Ukraine from the very outset of this war of aggression, and indeed ever since the illegal occupation of Crimea. Through our successive declarations, the Congress has consistently championed a human-centred, inclusive, transparent, and sustainable approach to recovery; we have made it clear that reconstruction must be shaped from the grassroots," underlined Cecilia Dalman Eek addressing participants of the fourth International Summit of cities and regions on 26 May.
"The contribution of local and regional authorities to rebuilding Ukraine is indispensable. Even amid the ongoing war, Ukrainian municipalities continue to innovate and lead," stated Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori also speaking at the summit, which gathered Ukrainian central, regional and local authorities alongside international partners to focus on resilience, preparedness and recovery of Ukrainian communities and regions on the road to the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026.
Ukrainian mayors and local representatives working with the Council of Europe
During the visit, the delegation held bilateral meetings with national partners and representatives of local and regional authorities. The meetings focussed on local governance and municipal leadership with Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv and Chair of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, and an exchange with Ukraine's four national associations of local and regional authorities regarding topical issues as well as public ethics and the prevention of corruption. In meeting with Sergii Marchenko, Minister of Finance, as well as with Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture the focus was on local finance management and public investments. The delegation also met with Valeriia Koval, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, and Ivan Verbytskyi, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, looking at digital and cultural transformation.
Overall, the exchanges focused on advancing local self-government reform, strengthening multilevel governance in line with Council of Europe standards, and providing further support to Ukrainian partners within the upcoming Council of Europe Action Plan on democratic security for Ukraine 2027-30.
On 25 May, Congress representatives took part in the Platform for National-Local Dialogue on Open Government in Ukraine. This event brought together central government officials, local authorities and civil society to advance Ukraine's National Action Plan on Open Government, promote local democratic innovation, and showcase community-led practices of resilience and co-operation during the war, including citizens' assemblies in Kyiv and Rivne.
Recognising the vital role of youth in the democratic future of the country, the delegation met with students at the National University of Kyiv - Mohyla Academy. The interactive dialogue centred on youth participation and the role of young people in democratic processes during wartime.
The delegation reaffirmed the Congress's continued commitment to supporting Ukraine in strengthening local democracy, effective multilevel governance and accountable local self-government as essential elements of the country's resilience, recovery and European path.
