Agency’s Expert Club

On 28th of March the Agency for Legislative Initiatives in partnership with the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine presented to the participants of the Expert Club the new research paper “The Venice Commission and Ukraine: the Ukrainian path to democracy through law”.

The Agency for Legislative Initiatives launched a new presentation format of its policy materials – Expert Club in a British “afternoon tea” format.

The main purpose of the study is to mark the 20th anniversary of cooperation between Ukraine and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, which Ukraine celebrated in 2016. The focus of the study was to incorporate the conclusions of the Venice Commission in the preparation and improvement of legislation.

The experience of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) was analyzed in the research, and the philosophy and major fields of activity of the Venice Commission, as well as its principles, standards and methods of work were highlighted. It was especially emphasized that not only the Venice Commission’s Conclusions on Ukraine but also studies of the Venice Commission in general as an integral part of the «European constitutional heritage» should be considered in the process of drafting and improving Ukrainian legislation. The author of a study concludes that Ukraine’s readiness to cooperate with the Venice Commission and proper consideration of the Commission’s recommendations could be regarded as an indicator of democratic processes taking place in the country and its commitment to European values.

The presentation included discussion with the participation of the research author Oleksandr Ilkov, the Head of the Department of Regional Cooperation Programs of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe Sergiy Kuznetsov, Director of the USAID RADA Program Igor Kogut, Chairwoman of the Agency Svitlana Matvienko and Deputy Chairman of the Agency Oleksandr Zaslavskyi and was moderated by the Senior Project Officer of the Venice Commission in the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine Sergiy Tkachenko.

The research was conducted by Oleksandr Ilkov for the third issue of “Parliament” Journal 2016, a special periodic publication of the Agency for Legislative Initiatives distributed among MPs, parliamentary staff, academic and experts institutions. “Parliament” Journal is prepared and published within the framework of USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, which is operated by East Europe Foundation.

Media gallery of the event