(AGENPARL) – mar 25 ottobre 2022 [Image]
Ref. CG052(2022)
“We are defending not only Ukraine, but also European democratic values,” Kyiv Mayor Klitschko and Minister Chernyshov tell Council of Europe Congress
“Since the beginning of the war, thousands of civilians have been killed and nearly 8 million refugees have found themselves in Europe,” said the Mayor of Kyiv. “This war does not follow any rules of international law. Russian missiles are hitting our cities without any military objective and targeting our power plants and essential infrastructure,” he explained. He also recalled that more than 50 local government representatives have been kidnapped since the beginning of the war, calling on the Congress to continue to support Ukrainian local governments. As President of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, he spoke of future reconstruction, saying that Ukraine was ready to work with the Council of Europe and the Congress in the framework of a “Marshall Plan”.
“Our administration continues to function despite the bombings and the imposition of martial law,” said Minister Chernyshov, outlining Ukraine’s needs for the emergency and the medium- and long-term recovery plan. “We have our eyes on this prospect, bearing in mind the reforms needed within the framework of a state governed by the rule of law, even if for the moment the main thing is to survive,” he added.
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Institutional Communication Unit
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Leendert Verbeek (Netherlands, SOC/G/PD), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Harald Sonderegger (Austria, EPP/CCE).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France