Canadian House of Commons Speaker makes first official visit to the VRU
On October 14, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine welcomed the Speaker of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, Greg Fergus, during his first official visit to Kyiv. In their meeting, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, emphasized the strong interparliamentary cooperation between Ukraine and Canada. Fergus and Stefanchuk discussed the security situation, in particular the constant Russian attacks with drones and missiles. Stefanchuk thanked Fergus for Canada's military assistance and called for its strengthening, in particular in terms of providing air defense, artillery, tanks and combat aircraft, as well as training for F-16 pilots.
The two parties also discussed the joint production of drones, Canada's participation in international coalitions, including on the return of deported Ukrainian children, and the implementation of Ukraine's Peace Formula. Stefanchuk also emphasized the importance of Canada supporting Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration on its way to NATO.
President Zelenskyi signs Law on Public Consultations
On October 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed a Law on Public Consultations. On June 20, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Law #4254 "On Public Consultations" in the second reading and overall. The new law aims to promote democracy, enhance public administration quality, and increase the legitimacy of government decisions. Key provisions of the law include:
USAID RADA: Next Generation has actively advocated for the adoption of this law. The Program provided expert support and developed recommendations to improve the law's effectiveness and supported public consultations through the Citizens and Parliament grant program. In particular, USAID RADA: Next Generation grantee NGO Institute Respublica, in cooperation with the VRU Committee on the Organization of State Power, local self-government, regional development, and urban planning, conducted public consultations on improving the procedure for Ukrainians to receive compensation for housing damaged and destroyed by Russia’s aggression, and on modern and effective housing policy. NGO Institute Respublica delivered a training program for VRU Committee staffers, MP aides, and NGOs titled "Public consultations as a quality tool for developing draft laws."
President Zelenskyi presents Victory Plan to VRU
On October 16, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi presented his Victory Plan to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the general public. The main points of this plan are the invitation of Ukraine for NATO membership, strengthening defense, deterring Russian aggression, and developing economic potential.
Key elements of the plan include strengthening air defense, expanding the use of Ukrainian UAVs, and gaining access to intelligence from partners. President Zelenskyi emphasized the need to introduce a non-nuclear deterrence package to protect against further Russian aggression. After the war, the Ukrainian military could use its experience to strengthen NATO and European defense, and the Ukrainian military units could replace the US military, he said. Some points of the plan have secret annexes already presented to international partners.
The Victory Plan was fully supported by Parliament, according to Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk. However, MPs from the opposition said that major elements of the plan, such as immediate membership in NATO and permission to use long-range weapons, were questionable in terms of their feasibility due to a possible lack of allied support.
USAID RADA: Next Generation amplifies Ukraine's voice on international platforms and strengthens global support for the country
With USAID RADA: Next Generation support, IDEA International organized a panel discussion titled "Parliament in Wartime: Lessons from Ukrainian Democracy" at the Forum 2000 conference in Prague. Speakers included Oleksandr Korniyenko, Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, MPs Serhiy Kalchenko and Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Swedish MP Alireza Akhondi, and journalist Sevgil Musayeva. They examined the state of Ukrainian parliamentary democracy and shared lessons other parliaments can learn during crises. The Program supports the Verkhovna Rada in sharing Ukraine's experiences and exploring ways to strengthen democratic resilience.
USAID RADA: Next Generation promotes parliamentary education: over 3,000 students join lessons on parliamentarism
The Parliamentary Education Center, supported by USAID RADA: Next Generation, conducted regional engagements in Ternopil and Chortkiv from October 15 to 18, reaching 3,364 participants in just four days. The events featured MPs Volodymyr Hevko, Yevheniia Kravchuk, and Viacheslav Nehoda, head of the Ternopil RMA. In total, the PEC VRU organized 15 events during this tour. Lessons covered topics such as the Verkhovna Rada, its authority, functions, and the process of drafting and presenting laws.
USAID RADA: Next Generation helps VRU advance decolonization efforts and strengthen humanitarian policies
On October 17-18, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, with support from USAID RADA: Next Generation, held two offsite meetings. The first, titled “The State and Prospects of Ukrainian Book Publishing and Distribution,” took place in Kharkiv. The second meeting, held in Poltava, focused on the implementation of decolonization laws and the review of real estate registers containing symbols of Russian imperial policy. Participants also discussed the status of children's rights to receive recognition as victims of hostilities and armed conflicts in the Poltava region.
USAID RADA: Next Generation promotes post-legislative scrutiny to improve Ukrainian legislation
On October 17, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, with USAID RADA: Next Generation support, hosted a workshop titled "Post-Legislative Review as a Tool for Assessing the Quality of Legislation: Insights from VRU Committees." The event brought together representatives from various VRU Committees to share their experiences in evaluating the effectiveness of laws using post-legislative scrutiny methods. Participants also discussed the potential for applying PLS procedures as part of Parliament’s oversight function.
USAID RADA: Next Generation assists VRU in evaluating industrial park legislation and strengthening investment support
On October 17-19, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development, supported by USAID RADA: Next Generation, held an external meeting in Odesa along with a roundtable on "Measures of State Support for Investments." The Odesa visit was primarily focused on industrial parks. Although the law on industrial parks was passed before the full-scale invasion, the Economic Committee continues to monitor its effectiveness to ensure the incentives for manufacturers are working as intended and to determine if adjustments are needed. As part of this, the Committee is conducting post-legislative oversight of the Law of Ukraine "On Industrial Parks." The working visit included MPs from the Economic Development Committee, led by Chairman Dmytro Natalukha, as well as representatives of local government and businesses. Oleksandr Haidu, Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, also participated in the visit.
USAID RADA: Next Generation supports VRU in advancing local democracy and integrity through roundtable on European integration
On October 15, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Building, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning, with USAID RADA: Next Generation support, held a roundtable titled “Democracy, Integrity, and European Integration: The Example of Fastiv City Territorial Community.” The event, organized in collaboration with Fastiv City Council and supported by the Council of Europe’s “Strengthening Multi-Level Governance, Democracy, and Human Rights at the Local Level in Ukraine” project, brought together members of Parliament, local government representatives, public organizations, and international institutions. Participants explored the democratic reforms within local self-government, focusing on Fastiv City Council’s efforts to strengthen integrity through its recently adopted Code of Ethics for council deputies. They also discussed potential improvements to legislation aimed at enhancing the integrity and transparency of local self-government bodies.
USAID RADA: Next Generation supports VRU delegation to 149th IPU Assembly and ASGP Meeting in Geneva, advancing Ukraine’s Parliamentary initiatives
USAID RADA: Next Generation supported a Parliamentary delegation led by First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Oleksandr Korniyenko, to the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 13-17, 2024. The Assembly gathered Parliamentarians from 178 countries to discuss global issues and strengthen international Parliamentary cooperation. Key topics included democratic institutions, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), peacebuilding, and inclusive governance. The delegation focused on promoting Ukraine's recovery, sovereignty, and democratic values through bilateral and multilateral engagements.
The Program also supported Verkhovna Rada Secretary General Viacheslav Shtuchnyi’s attendance at the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) meeting, held alongside the IPU Assembly from October 14-16. The event celebrated ASGP’s 85th anniversary and addressed topics like citizen involvement in democracy, Parliamentary travel rules, and the role of AI. Shtuchnyi's participation enhanced collaboration and shared innovative practices and highlighted Ukraine’s unique Parliamentary challenges during the war.