On 23 April 2024, parliamentary civil servants from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Parliament of Moldova, and the National Assembly of Armenia held an expert exchange on “Status of Parliamentary Civil Servants: International Experience and Lessons Learned.”
During the meeting, participants discussed the status of parliamentary civil servants — including the legislative frameworks that regulate their work and the similarities and differences between parliamentary and general civil service in their respective countries. A key focus was placed on the legal regulation of parliamentary staff, their independence, and the distinct nature of their role compared to broader public service.
Artem Yanchuk, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, shared insights on the current state of the parliamentary civil service in Ukraine — including ongoing reform efforts, key challenges, and available opportunities. He noted that establishing a separate parliamentary civil service helps reinforce the institutional independence of parliament and makes it possible to introduce tailored conditions for those employed within it.
He specifically highlighted that in Ukraine, the status of parliamentary civil servants is part of the internal reform roadmap of the Verkhovna Rada and is referenced in the parliamentary Resolution “On Measures to Implement the Recommendations on Internal Reform and Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.” Ukraine has been moving in this direction – in 2020, the Draft Law “On Parliamentary Service” was registered and subsequently adopted as a basis.
Ultimately, the question is not whose approach is better — many aspects depend on a country’s legal system, population size, available resources, and other structural factors. However, learning how parliamentary service is organised in countries that are on the path toward EU integration is valuable for all parliamentary representatives. In this light, experience-sharing initiatives can serve as effective platforms for discussing key regulatory aspects of parliamentary service.
Background
In line with the recommendations of the European Parliament’s Needs Assessment Mission, Draft Law No. 4530, “On Parliamentary Service”, was registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in December 2020 and adopted at first reading in January 2021. The goal of this draft law is to define the specific legal framework governing parliamentary service and the legal status of parliamentary civil servants, as well as to ensure the effective functioning of the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The event took place as part of the project “Parliamentary Accountability of the Security Sector in Ukraine” (PASS Ukraine), implemented by ALI in partnership with the Parliamentary Centre (Canada), in cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and with support from Global Affairs Canada under the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program(PSOPs).
