On 20 May, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in the opening of the Steering Committee meeting of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” (2023–2026).

Mariana Betsa emphasized the importance of coordination among all Action Plan partners in supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing full-scale war of aggression by the Russian Federation.

“The Action Plan is a vital instrument that helps Ukraine strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law. At the same time, it is designed to assist our country in overcoming the unprecedented challenges and threats caused by the ongoing Russian aggression”, the Deputy Minister stressed.

The Ukrainian diplomat also highlighted the importance of establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine and ensuring the return of Ukrainian children unlawfully deported by Russia.

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe Borys Tarasyuk underlined the strategic importance of the Action Plan in the context of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations. “The Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Ukraine directly contributes to the fulfilment of accession criteria and the strengthening of European standards at all levels of public administration”, Borys Tarasyuk stated.

Following the meeting, Mariana Betsa took part in a ceremonial cancellation of a new Ukrposhta postage stamp, dedicated to the symbolic occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s accession to the Council of Europe. The ceremony was initiated by the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe.

The Steering Committee meeting was attended by high-ranking Ukrainian government officials, representatives of local authorities and civil society, as well as representatives of the Council of Europe Secretariat and the Organization’s Office in Kyiv.

A delegation of the Committee of Ministers’ Rapporteur Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) of the Council of Europe, comprising Permanent Representatives of Austria, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, also took part in the event. The delegation is on a visit to Ukraine to assess the implementation of the Action Plan and explore ways to secure additional funding for its effective execution.

Participants reviewed the implementation status of ongoing Action Plan projects and discussed new cooperation areas. The Action Plan’s implementation was primarily considered in the context of supporting key reforms linked to Ukraine’s EU accession process, as well as efforts to address the consequences of Russian aggression.

Representatives of the Council of Europe acknowledged the constructive cooperation with the Ukrainian side and expressed readiness to continue working actively to ensure the effective implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine.