The headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg hosted the Day of Ukrainian Reforms on October 3, the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Ukraine reported.
“This event was held at the Council of Europe for the first time and was initiated by Ukraine,” the ministry said in a statement.
Ukrainian delegates presented before the member states and leadership of the organization the results of reforms that are held in the framework of the Action Plan of the Council of Europe for Ukraine for 2015-2017, discussed the existing challenges and future priorities for cooperation.
The ministry noted that the presentations and discussions were held in the form of four working groups on the following topics – a strategy on human rights; the reform of the prison system and the police; the judicial reform; and the fight against corruption.
When opening the event Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said: “I thank the Council of Europe for their support and high estimation of the Ukrainian reforms. A lot of joint work still lies ahead, but the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Ukraine has become our common success. Within its framework we have received unique expert support of key reforms, in particular that of the judiciary and the anti-corruption reform. For its part, Ukraine has demonstrated through concrete actions that, despite the Russian aggression and all the difficulties, we are working to reach a specific result and not to turn it into a never-ending process. ”
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni noted Ukraine’s progress and stressed the important role of civil society in the achievement of these results. She said that the organization of the Day of Reform and participation of ministers in it is a confirmation of Ukraine’s commitment to reforms. She urged the Ukrainian authorities to continue reforms, especially in the area of the fight against corruption.
The head of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, Permanent Representative of Estonia Katrin Kivi also took part in the opening of the Day of Ukrainian reforms. She called on those present to remember in what difficult conditions Ukraine is holding its reform. Kivi expressed the hope that the Council of Europe member states will support the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine.
