After the two-day session of the High Level Dialogue on good democratic governance in Ukraine and the way forward in the post-war period, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and First Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko signed the following declaration:
"We, the undersigned,
"Condemn Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine and express our support for a sustainable and just peace based on Ukraine's Peace Formula, ensuring Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
"Express our satisfaction for the results of the third session of the High-Level Dialogue which was held in Strasbourg on 2 and 3 July 2024.
"Agree that the progress made in respect of defining the vision for the post-war multi-governance system in Ukraine, for the recovery of local self-government, including in respect of the transition from military to civilian administration, and for a clearer division of competences between tiers of government, represent important steps towards the furthering of the decentralisation reform in Ukraine.
"Acknowledge and commend the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the decentralisation process, praise the associations of local and regional authorities for their involvement in the process and underline the need to ensure that decentralisation is finalised, including by guaranteeing that local authorities are free to exercise their competences, have resources which are commensurate with their tasks and a legal mechanism is introduced to ensure the legality of their decisions.
"Are confident that discussions aimed at ensuring the exercise of electoral suffrage and other political and related rights in the context of post-war elections will constitute an important contribution to the organisation of safe, free, and fair elections as soon as the situation allows for it.
"Highlight the value of the co-operation between Ukraine and the Council of Europe in accompanying the steady progress of Ukraine on its path towards the European Union, declare our intention to continue working in the format offered by the High-Level Dialogue, with the support of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress, bringing together the main Ukrainian stakeholders in the fields of multi-level governance and elections."
This joint declaration builds on the first such document, signed in 2022.
