(AGENPARL) – Tue 25 March 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG015(2025)
Council of Europe Congress: Local and regional authorities will play a crucial role in decentralised recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine
The Congress reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, and condemned once again the fact that the Russian Federation’s unjustified and unprovoked war against Ukraine continued to cause massive losses of innocent lives and human suffering, as well as targeted destruction of cultural heritage and of vital infrastructures, which represented human rights violations unprecedented in recent history in Europe.
The Declaration further deplored the war’s dramatic long-term repercussions on territorial communities in Ukraine, and paid tribute to the crucial role played by Ukrainian local and regional authorities in addressing the disastrous humanitarian consequences faced by their citizens.
The Congress underlined that Council of Europe member States must not wait for this aggression to end to engage in crucial work with Ukraine to lay the groundwork for its recovery and reconstruction at local and regional levels as well as at national level, and based on full respect for human rights. The Russian Federation must pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s regions, and confiscated Russian assets, which are frozen today worldwide, should be a source for such reconstruction efforts, the Declaration said.
The Congress considered that decentralised recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine should be based on a strategic vision and aspiration towards human-centred, inclusive, transparent and sustainable development, based on European standards and international best practices. Beyond essential work to repair infrastructure, recovery and reconstruction will require inter alia supporting veterans and war-affected populations, reintegrating returning IDPs and populations relocated abroad, and supporting other vulnerable groups, including through supporting the return of children illegally transferred by Russian occupiers.
Local and regional authorities will have a crucial role to play in providing such support and in fostering equality and social cohesion. They will also be at the forefront in providing education, health services and public services, and in ensuring that their citizens have access to sustainable housing.
The Declaration underlined that the process of decentralisation reform currently under way will provide a critical foundation for recovery and reconstruction efforts, ensuring the strong institutions and empowered communities and citizens that are essential for a sustainable future. The Congress reaffirmed its readiness to support Ukraine in local self-government reforms and capacity-building and in the achievement of local democracy standards, working closely with Ukrainian local and regional authorities and their national associations to address the needs voiced by them.
The Declaration emphasised the importance of regular dialogue between the national authorities and all levels of subnational authorities in the context of decentralisation, recovery and reconstruction policies and their implementation, and acknowledged in this context the Annual Summit of Cities and Regions to be held in Ukraine in June this year under the patronage of the President of Ukraine as one of the most effective platforms for communications aimed at the regional development of Ukraine.
48th Session
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
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: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Tunç Soyer (Türkiye, SOC/G/PD).
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).
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