Verkhovna Rada calls on the international community to condemn Russian presidential elections in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territory
The Ukrainian Parliament reached out to international governments, parliaments, organizations, and assemblies regarding Russia's plans to hold presidential elections in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territory on March 17. The MPs called on these bodies to:
USAID RADA: Next Generation strengthens institutional capacity building, efficiency, and effectiveness of the VRU Committee on Freedom of Speech
Program experts conducted a functional analysis and produced a comprehensive report identifying the VRU Committee on Freedom of Speech’s key activities and ways it can prioritize efficiency and effectiveness in engaging stakeholders and civil society. The analysis is comprised of a checklist covering four blocks related to the Committee's legislative, organizational, control functions, and communications operations. Through this research, strengths and weaknesses were identified, along with opportunities to enhance communication with the VRU Secretariat, MPs, and key stakeholders, and ways to increase interaction with public authorities and international partners. The VRU Committee on Freedom of Speech began collaborating with the Program in February 2024 as part of the Model Committees program. USAID RADA: Next Generation supports six VRU Committees in developing communication strategies to raise awareness of their activities and promote greater civil society involvement in parliamentary affairs.
USAID RADA: Next Generation assists VRU in studying Italy's experience to facilitate EU integration and strengthen the Research Service
From March 11 to 15, USAID RADA: Next Generation organized a study visit to Rome (Italy) for five VRU staffers to study the experiences of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. During the visit, staffers had the opportunity to work with the relevant units of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (Research Service of the Chamber of Deputies; IT Department; Committee on EU Integration Affairs}) and representatives of the Senate. Participants focused on improving how the VRU can improve the quality and efficiency of its European integration processes, improve relations between Parliament and Government on EU-related issues, and organize future activities of the Chamber (legislative procedure, work program, and order of business). In Rome, representatives of the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine exchanged proposals on cooperation with their Italian colleagues, and both groups developed a roadmap for future cooperation. Also, on March 15, the delegation met with Italy’s Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies.
USAID RADA: Next Generation enhances the communication capacities of VRU factions to improve cooperation between voters and MPs
On March 13, the International Republican Institute (IRI), with USAID RADA: Next Generation support, conducted a consultation with MPs Olena Shulyak, Vadym Halaichuk, and Yulia Ovchynnikova (all of them - Servant of the People faction) and Denys Zhernovyi, representative of the faction's secretariat. The meeting aimed to identify the faction’s needs in strengthening interactions and engagement with citizens. MPs shared their methods of communicating with voters, discussed how the war has changed how they work, and discussed how local branches are involved in lawmaking. Also, participants explored their interactions with party members inside the faction. The secretariat's representative explained his role in the functioning of the faction and how he interacts with local branches of the party.
USAID RADA: Next Generation helps enhance the legislative process: more than 120 participants join a public discussion about Scotland’s experience in implementing white and green papers
On March 13, the Program, in collaboration with the VRU Research Service, organized a public discussion on international best practices for preparing white and green policy papers. White papers are issued by the Government as statements of policy, and often set out proposals for legislative changes, which may be debated before a Bill is introduced. Green papers set out, for discussion, proposals which are still at a formative stage This event marked the second installment in a series focused on this topic. The public discussion brought together more than 120 MPs, VRU Secretariat staffers, and experts. Representatives from the Scottish Government shared their national experience, while the Verkhovna Rada's Research Service outlined their perspective on policy paper discussions in Ukraine. The active involvement of the Research Service as a co-organizer and key presenter underscored its readiness to lead efforts in shaping policy paper procedures in Ukraine. The legal requirement for preparing and discussing such papers was introduced by the Law "On Legislative Activity," which will come into effect after martial law ends. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop a comprehensive roadmap for implementing this law. In light of this, USAID RADA: Next Generation stands prepared to continue supporting the Research Service in its law implementation initiatives, and is committed to explaining the benefits of using green and white papers in Ukraine to improve the quality of legal preparation.
USAID RADA: Next Generation strengthens the crisis communication capacities of VRU Committees
From March 12 to 14, the Program organized training sessions on crisis communications for the Model Committees. The sessions aimed to enhance participants' abilities in managing crisis communications and in their engagement during challenging scenarios with key stakeholders such as voters, NGOs, media, and local government bodies. In total, 17 parliamentary aides and Committee Secretariat staffers learned about the importance of effectively managing crisis communications, the various stages of the crisis communication cycle, and the corresponding actions required at each stage. Participants also identified tools for both internal and external crisis communications and established guidelines for internal communication during crises. They recognized the nuances of crisis communications when dealing with different target groups in their districts. They also shared experiences addressing rumors, misinformation, and negative feedback while analyzing international and domestic examples of crisis communications.
USAID RADA: Next Generation helps VRU align its legislation with EU standards
On March 15, the Program conducted a practical training session for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU standards. In total, 25 Committee Secretariat staffers attended the event. During the training, participants gained insights into the legal framework of the EU, integration requirements, and the procedures for EU accession. They also developed practical skills in aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU standards, learned how the EU drafts and implements its laws, conducted impact assessments, and created compliance tables.
VRU plans to present communication strategy developed with USAID RADA: Next Generation during the next Jean Monnet Dialogue meeting
On March 12, USAID RADA: Next Generation communication experts met with VRU Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk, her team, and First Deputy Secretary General Mykola Shevchuk. The group reviewed the final draft of a communication strategy the Program prepared in collaboration with the VRU Secretariat's communication units. They agreed to finalize the strategy and discuss its signing and presentation at the next Jean Monnet Dialogue meeting in spring 2024. Also, the participants discussed plans for the Program and VRU Secretariat representatives to meet with journalists to explore compromise solutions for media access to parliamentary information during martial law, enhancing parliamentary transparency, and improving cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada and the media. There were considerations about granting journalists access to the third floor of the parliamentary building to cover plenary sessions, inspired by the operational model used during the COVID-19 pandemic. USAID RADA: Next Generation understands that VRU Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk tasked Chairman of the Committee on Freedom of Speech, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, with developing a concept for journalists' access to the parliament building.
USAID RADA: Next Generation participated in inter-parliamentary events under the EU program and International IDEA Inter Pares, focusing on Parliament's role in the budget process
From March 11 to 14, a VRU delegation and Program experts joined "The Role of Parliament in the Budget Process" workshop hosted by the Chamber of Deputies in Prague (Czech Republic). Also, from March 14 to16, USAID RADA: Next Generation Chief of Party Igor Kogut accompanied a delegation of the Ukrainian Parliament to the German Bundestag in Berlin to examine the functioning of the German Parliamentary Budget office. During the visits, the participants heard presentations from EU national parliaments focusing on their interaction with budget oversight bodies, organization of the budget process, and the functioning of parliamentary budget offices. Fruitful meetings were held in the German Bundestag with its leadership, research units, Budget Committee Secretariat, and MPs. The events in Prague and Berlin led to the development of international cooperation initiatives, particularly in establishing a parliamentary budget office and enhancing parliamentary control over public finances. MP Pavlo Frolov (Servant of the People faction) and the Head of the VRU Secretariat for Budget, Andriy Vatuliov, committed to further cooperation in modeling the parliamentary budget office. Participants also engaged with representatives from various EU parliaments and agreed to cooperate further with the Parliamentary Institute of the Czech Parliament, the National Assembly of France, and the German Bundestag. Discussions with Bundestag members included organizing the parliamentary aspects of the Conference on Ukraine's recovery scheduled for Germany in June 2024.