Strengthening capacity of VRU committees through cooperation with PACE

The USAID RADA: Next Generation Program continues to work with parliamentary committees to strengthen their institutional capacity. The program is organizing a study visit of the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg on January 24-26. The Ukrainian delegation included representatives of the Secretariats of the VRU Committees and units of the VRU Secretariat.

The visit was organized in cooperation with the PACE Inter-Parliamentary Co-operation and Parliamentary Projects Support Division.

The visit's goals:

• To familiarize with the practical aspects of PACE activities, in particular, the role of PACE committees and the PACE Secretariat;
• To find ways for possible cooperation between the VRU and PACE committees;
• To establish a stronger partnership with PACE at the level of committee secretariats, which will facilitate interparliamentary cooperation, promote European values on the path of Ukraine's integration into the EU, and enhance the approximation of the Ukrainian legislation with the EU acquis.

In his welcoming remarks, Director of the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program Igor Kogut noted that this visit "opens up great prospects and new opportunities for the VRU to cooperate with PACE committees and European parliaments at the horizontal level." According to him, Ukraine's EU accession process should be carried out in accordance with the standards of the Council of Europe, as it is "a benchmark in matters of culture, human rights, rule of law and democracy."

Head of Ukraine's parliamentary delegation to PACE Maria Mezentseva thanked for this studying and making-contact visit and aknowledged the important role of the Council of Europe in supporting Ukraine, especially during wartime.

Louise Barton, Director of Committees, Director of the Human Dignity and Sustainable Development Directorate, assured that the organization is committed to strengthening cooperation with Ukraine, including in the fight against russia.

Over the course of three days, the Ukrainian delegation will participate in numerous meetings with the leadership of the PACE committee secretariats, PACE and Council of Europe departments and institutions, and will observe the debates.

The visit is expected to result in the development of a roadmap for further cooperation between the VRU and the CoE-PACE and possible joint initiatives to strengthen the institutional, communication, and research capacities of the Ukrainian parliament.