Ukraine: Civil society discusses future strategy

On 24 and 25 November 2014, civil society and government representatives from different regions of Ukraine discussed their future strategy to promote citizen participation in decision-making. Main issues are enhancing the rules of procedure for consultations within the law-making process as well as establishing effective mechanisms of citizen-state interaction at national, regional and local levels. Also discussed were ways to support these processes through an information campaign as well as capacity building of civil society organizations and the public administration. The necessity to adopt a new law on public consultations was widely recognized by the participants.

During a high-level roundtable on 8 and 9 December 2014, the strategy shall be endorsed following broad consultation with Ukrainian civil society and transformed into a 3-year action plan in 2015. The draft strategy which is supported by the Council of Europe is open for comments until 4 December 2014 on the website of the Council of Europe office in Kiev.