Preparation of the analytical materials is a part of a project implemented by the NGO Agency of Legislative Initiatives with the support of USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by East Europe Foundation.
The Seventh International Academic Conference “Parliamentary Readings”
On May 26–27, 2017 in Kyiv The Seventh International Academic Conference “Parliamentary Readings” took place.
The Conference is a part of a project implemented by the NGO Agency of Legislative Initiatives with the support of USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by East Europe Foundation.
Photographer Oksana Sushko
The conference is intended to form a higher level of expert and academic discourse in Ukraine and attract young researchers and academics to conduct research on the evolution of the formation and trends of the development of parliamentarianism in Ukraine, qualitative and quantitative methods of studying internal parliamentary processes, and the methodology of studying the behaviour of parliamentarians.
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Conference topics:
• The evolution of the formation and tendencies of development of parliamentarianism in Ukraine;
• Qualitative and quantitative methods of studying internal parliamentary processes;
• Methodology for studying the behaviour of parliamentarians;
• Coalition government;
• Cooperation between government and parliament.
Photographer Oksana Sushko
The first day of the VII International Academic Conference “Parliamentary Readings”, which was filled with informative presentations and discussions, showed the participants and the guests the importance of social media enhancing parliamentary democracy. International experience of building an effective and transparent parliament was also presented during the first working day. Speakers showed how an effective and transparent parliament could be built in Ukraine. They also introduced Ukrainian and worldwide practices of the internal parliamentary processes research. First day of the conference ended with the interesting and comprehensive presentation and discussion of the studies.
Фото: Оксана Сушко
Фото: Оксана Сушко
Фото: Оксана Сушко
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Second day of the Conference was devoted to the presentation and discussion of the research papers. It was focused on the evaluation of the problem of cooperation between parliament and government of Ukraine; legal regulation of parliamentary immunity; the problem of sticking to the election programs by political parties; the influence of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine on activity of parliament; comparative analysis of parliamentary systems in Germany, Austrian Republic and Switzerland; psychology of parliamentary lobbying; code of conduct for MPs; possibility of e-government effective functioning.
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Media gallery here
Draft Concept of the “End-to-End” Legislative Process
On May 22, 2017 the Draft Concept of the “End-to-End” Legislative Process presentation took place.
The draft concept paper on the “end-to-end” legislative process contains analysis of current practices, a review of international experience, as well as proposals concerning the concept of “end-to-end” legislative process reform with an emphasis on strengthening coordination between the subjects of legislative initiative. This document offers alternatives of changing the “end-to-end” legislative process, which can be described as “government-centred” (based on the experience of France), “parliament-centred” (based on US experience) and “the concept of minimally necessary changes” (on the basis of analysis of existing practices in Ukraine).
“Problems in the legislative process in Ukraine are largely due not so much to imperfect regulatory framework as to wrong practices of their implementation. In this case, the key issues include:
– Lack of strategic planning in the policy-making process;
– Dominance of political expediency over the rule of law;
– Dominance of the “juridical” paradigm in the policy making process;
– Actual lack of a system of monitoring, evaluation and review of adopted decisions”
– Lack of strategic planning in the policy-making process;
– Dominance of political expediency over the rule of law;
– Dominance of the “juridical” paradigm in the policy making process;
– Actual lack of a system of monitoring, evaluation and review of adopted decisions”
Training “Youth in Governmental Programs”
On 15 May, 2017 the Training “Youth in Governmental Programs” took place.
Development and implementation of informal interactive youth trainings is part of the project implemented by the Agency for Legislative Initiatives under the USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by the Eastern Europe Foundation.
During the training, the participants got acquainted with the components of the state and regional youth policy in Ukraine, as well as learned about the possibilities of an organised youth movement to influence the formation of the state youth policy agenda.
Photographer Oleksandr Kovalenko
“We are working to make the parliament more transparent, to establish communication between citizens and individual MPs, committees, etc. The scope of responsibility of the Agency for Legislative Initiatives includes a range of activities: development of a register of non-governmental organisations for the committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for their better communication with the public sector. We also strive to strengthen the control functions of the committees by introducing a mechanism such as the Shadow Report, i.e. reports prepared by public experts upon the request of committees for the implementation of individual programs, individual laws, etc. We carry out events in the format of Town Hall Meetings to provide communication between MPs and voters. We also actively work in the area of education to involve young people in the legislative process, in the process of decision-making, in monitoring policy development and its implementation. This framework includes four trainings for young people, and this is the third training directly related to young people in government programs”
Photographer Oleksandr Kovalenko
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine is building an open policy to involve young people in the decision-making process at different levels: from the regional (local) to the highest national level.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine seeks to be more transparent and to receive feedback from young people.
The priority of the work of the Ministry is to strengthen the areas of cooperation between the state, civil society and business, as well as to create a platform for the implementation of various youth initiatives”
The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine seeks to be more transparent and to receive feedback from young people.
The priority of the work of the Ministry is to strengthen the areas of cooperation between the state, civil society and business, as well as to create a platform for the implementation of various youth initiatives”
Photographer Oleksandr Kovalenko
Media gallery here.
Shadow Report “Public Service Reform in Ukraine: Implementation of the specialized law in 2016-2017”
On May 17, 2017 Shadow Report “Public Service Reform in Ukraine: Implementation of the specialized law in 2016-2017” rpesentation took place.
The Shadow Report “Public Service Reform in Ukraine: Specialized Law Implementation in 2016-2017” is an alternative to the governmental report on the implementation of the key results of public service reform in Ukraine. The report examined the development and adoption of the Law On Public service; exhaustively analysed the provisions of the law with a focus on potential shortcomings and recommendations; formulated a new vision of public service in Ukraine; and suggested modern tools of personnel management in the public service.
“USAID RADA Program continues to monitor the situation around the draft law On Public Service. Today the format of this meeting of the committee in terms of performing the control function is of critical importance to us. The Report prepared by the Agency for Legislative Initiatives represents a politically neutral position that balances those of the government, of the committee, and the position of independent experts. The practice of such reporting format is very useful and we would like to introduce it in the contemporary Ukrainian parliament. Such reports should take place at meetings of this kind”
“Amendments to the Law on Public Service came into force a year ago, but we can already talk about the first successes, as well as single out the main directions for further work. These include determining a comprehensive vision of the target model of the public service of Ukraine (career-based or position-based), harmonisation of the public service reform with other elements of the public administration reform and improving communication and public awareness of competition for senior civil service positions”
Preparation of the Shadow Reports is a part of a project implemented by the NGO Agency of Legislative Initiatives with the support of USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by East Europe Foundation.
We should unite to build and not to destroy
As every year before, the First Seminar aims at providing deep understanding of European values, historical, social, political and economic processes in Ukraine and in the world as well as becoming a source of inspiration and new opportunities for personal and professional development.
USPS is a workshop of inspiration for leaders
Photographer Oksana Sushko
During the opening of the seminar Igor Kogut, Co-Founder and Honorary Director of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies, congratulated the participants with the start of the programme suggesting that the School is a real workshop of inspiration for leaders.
Svitlana Matviienko, Chairwoman of the Board of the Agency for Legislative Initiatives, underlined that over 12 years of successful work USPS has become a community of people for whom democracy, rule of law and human rights are not just words but values.
Mårten Ehnberg, Head of Office, Council of Europe in Ukraine, greeted the group and noted that in his 15 years in Ukraine he witnessed a great progress in reforms and, what is more important, a great potential for their future realization.
Human Development: 25 years of Independence of Ukraine
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Moderator Olga Zhmurko, Director of the Roma program initiative, International Renaissance Foundation, and Ella Libanova, PhD, Director of the M.V. Ptukha Institute of Demographics and Social Research of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, discussed transformations in the Ukrainian society in the last 25 years and how to effectively implement demographic policy.
European Integration: Diplomacy or Reforms?
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Discussion with the participation of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush- Tsintsadze under moderation of Igor Kogut drew attention to issues of European integration, whether it is a goal or just a path to a better future.
Ukrainian society and political elites: is a compromise possible?
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Sevgil Musayeva-Borovik, Chief Editor of “Ukrainska Pravda”, tried to answer this question. She also presented her recent book about Mustafa Dzhemilyev.
Responsible Judgements
Photographer Oksana Sushko
“What is the nature of responsible judgements, what philosophical grounds do they have?”, – these questions were answered by Yevgen Bystrytsky, PhD, Executive Director, International Renaissance Foundation.
Parliamentary and Governmental Relations
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Victor Pynzenyk, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine, Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on economic policy, doctor of economics, professor, discussed the role of parliament in public policy making and how to make government’s initiatives more available to the parliament.
Dialectics of Revolutions
Photographer Oksana Sushko
“Revolution is not only about turning the country upside down; the real revolutionary effect is related to the inversion of values”, said Artemy Magun, Dean, Department of Political Science and Sociology, Professor of Democratic Theory.
Ukrainian education today and tomorrow: what is the basis of the future of Ukraine?
Photographer Oksana Sushko
“How to bring up a society that is able to think and create rather than merely consume and use?” – this was the leitmotif of the lecture by Lilia Hrynevych, PhD, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, moderated by Ivanna Kobernyk, Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, USPS Alumna.
Values of Constitutionalism
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (2007-2013), PhD, professor, Member of the USPS Supervisory Board, Volodymyr Shapoval talked about constitutional values as well as constitutional guarantees of democracy.
De-communization as a prerequisite for establishing peace in Ukraine
Photographer Oksana Sushko
De-communization as a prerequisite for establishing peace in Ukraine was the topic of the discussion with Volodymyr Vyatrovych, Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance who talked about the Institute’s activity and main myths related to de-communization. The discussion was moderated by Andriy Kogut, Head of the Archive of Security Service of Ukraine, who also presented new opportunities to access the Archive of Security Service.
Crimea as a challenge for global security and law
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Moderator Yulia Tyshchenko, Director of Civil Society Programs, Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research, USPS alumna, Refat Chubarov, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine, Head of Crimean-Tatar Mejlis, and Valentyna Samar, Director of the Centre for Investigative Journalism, talked about Crimea’s reintegration strategy, effective communication with the occupied territories, the blockade of Crimea etc.
Politics in and between the lines of Ukrainian press
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Yulia Mostova, Chief Editor of the «Dzerkalo Tyzhnia» Newspaper, talked about professionalism trust, comprehensiveness and vision of reforms.
Change of the Paradigm of Ukrainian Media: Propaganda, Occupation, War
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Andriy Kulykov, Head of the Board, “Hromadske Radio”, suggested his own vision of how communication with the occupied territories should be held.
Value orientations of Ukrainian society in historical perspective
Photographer Oksana Sushko
What are value orientations of Ukrainian society in the past and the future? What parallels can we see between our past and our modernity? What lessons can Ukraine draw from its history? These questions were answered by Natalia Yakovenko, PhD, Head of the Department of History, National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”.
Human Rights Protection, Solidarity and Humanness
Photographer Oksana Sushko
“You do not have to be a doctor in order to be healthy. Similarly, in order to consider human rights a value and act accordingly you do not have to be a human rights activist”, said Larysa Denysenko, Human rights activist, lawyer, journalist, writer.
Photographer Oksana Sushko
Media gallery here.
Policy Paper “What Should Be the State Policy on Road Safety in Ukraine?”
On April 13, 2017 the presentation of the Policy Paper “What Should Be the State Policy on Road Safety in Ukraine?” took place.
Preparation of the Policy Papers is a part of a project implemented by the NGO Agency of Legislative Initiatives with the support of USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by East Europe Foundation.
The main objective of the research is to study the problem of fatalities and injuries on the roads of Ukraine as considered through the prism of state policy. The document estimates the extent of the problem and identifies key systemic shortcomings of the state policy in this area. The focus of the study was the analysis of the state implementation of its commitment to the public as regards road safety in the following key areas: safe roads, safer road users, safe vehicles and provision of emergency care.
“Our goal is very clear: we cooperate with the Verkhovna Rada to strengthen the capacity of high-quality work of the parliament and we would like the parliament to have a high-quality independent research service that could prepare such documents on the request of MPs. Such documents require highly professional work and costs. The parliamentary reform provides for a Research Service here [in parliament]. This is a very important document for discussion. This document will shape the vision, and with a vision legislative changes can be prepared more efficiently and significantly more proficiently”
“Agency for Legislative Initiatives set the trend for the preparation of White Papers in 2010, preparing a White Paper of Ukrainian Parliamentarianism. Many of our recommendations were integrated in the vision of the EP Mission led by Pat Cox. His second recommendation, in fact, refers to the improvement of the overall quality of draft laws by preparing white papers. We offer a series of Policy Papers, as a possible format of presentation of legislative initiatives before their adoption. These are discussion papers that in developed democracies precede legislative acts. Analysis of the problem and stakeholders, effective policies, existing gaps in the legislation, and, most importantly, solutions to the problem constitutes the optimal form for such documents. Today’s topic concerning road safety is not just important, it is sensitive and painful for Ukrainians. We hope we will be able to shift the discussion to a higher level, for which we thank the Subcommittee on the Safety of Road Traffic of the Committee on Transport, USAID RADA Program, the author Viktor Zahreba and all civil society activists engaged in the area”
“The problem of road safety is quite peculiar. It is truly comprehensive in terms of risks and understanding. Each road use in any role – a pedestrian, driver, passenger, or cyclist – bears a high risk of injury or loss of life. Ukrainians fear roads. Among European countries, Ukraine has one of the lowest road safety levels. This level is measured by the scale of effects, primarily by the number of lives lost”
Selected Works of the Participants of the Sixth International Conference ‘Parliamentary Readings’
On November 18-19, 2016, the Sixth International Conference ‘Parliamentary Readings’ was held at the House of Official Receptions (Kyiv, 22, Hrushevskyi Str.).
The conference was organized by the Agency for Legislative Initiatives in partnership with the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Social Technologies of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy as well as the Department of Parliamentarism and Political Management of the National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine.
A collection of selected works of its participants was prepared based on the results of the conference.
The conference is part of the project implemented by the Agency for Legislative Initiatives with the support of USAID RADA Program: Responsible, Accountable, Democratic Assembly implemented by the East Europe Foundation.
In Brovary, Teachers Played and Adopted Laws
Since 2016, the Agency for Legislative Initiatives has been promoting the game “AGORA: Democratic Procedure of Law Adoption in the Parliament of Ukraine” in senior grades of secondary schools.
The AGORA game allows participants to try on the role of parliamentarians and go through all stages of the law-making process: from drafting to voting. After taking part in the game at the colloquium organized by the Agency for Legislative Initiatives in Brovary, representatives of the educational community duly appreciated the capacity and efficiency of the game.
The event was held within the framework of the USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by East Europe Foundation, in cooperation with MP Pavlo Rizanenko in the framework of the Model District initiative.
Colloquium for teachers to present methodological guidelines for the subject of social studies, Brovary
Colloquium in organized by the NGO Agency of Legislative Initiatives with the support of USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by East Europe Foundation.
Educators of Brovary and Baryshivka regions were made aware of the modules of civic education and new training methods, such as brainstorming, open discussions and role playing presented in the methodological guidelines, watched the video “How Parliament Works” (made by Internews Ukraine within the framework of the USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly).
The participants also tested the online game “AGORA: Democratic Procedure of Law Adoption in the Parliament of Ukraine”, where you can feel like an MP and learn in practice all stages of the legislative process in Ukraine.
The initiative to integrate the component of civic education in school curricula aims at developing students’ knowledge, values and skills that they could use to defend their rights and freedoms, to control the government, and to participate in democratic processes.
Agency’s Expert Club
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.