RANG participated in Ukraine Recovery Conference

Igor Kogut, the Director of the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program, participated in the panel discussion "Building Strong Long-Term Parliamentary Relations" held on June 21 in the UK Parliament on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference. The participants discussed the role of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in post-war reconstruction and, in particular, in ensuring the European integration course, as well as the need to develop interparliamentary dialogue.

"The RADA: Next Generation Program promotes international cooperation to develop the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as a modern, efficient, transparent, accountable, and democratic institution. Regular exchange of experience and best practices helps to deepen mutual understanding, strengthen legislative capacity and increase support for Ukraine's European aspirations among EU member states," said Igor Kogut.

He added that the Program, together with partners from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the UK Parliament, is currently implementing successful projects that strengthen the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:

1. within the framework of the Constituency Partnership project, the Program has developed cooperation between Ukrainian and British MPs at the constituency level;
2. some VRU committees, together with British experts, implemented pilot projects of post-legislative scrutiny;
3. the Education Center of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine actively develops exchanges and cooperation with British colleagues;
4. the partnership with the UK allowed us to study the best practices of law drafting offices and model such an institution within the VRU.

The panelists agreed that inter-parliamentary dialogue plays a key role in the sustainable development of Ukraine's democratic institutions and in its fight against the aggressor, and therefore international cooperation should be strengthened.