Finland grants 150,000 euros in support for Ukraine’s democracy and rule of law programme

Press Release 194/2014
12 September 2014

The Council of Europe is implementing a three-million euro assistance programme to promote investigation of the human rights violations that have occurred in Ukraine, to strengthen the trust of national minorities, to carry out constitutional reforms in accordance with Council of Europe standards, to reform the electoral law and election monitoring, to develop local democracy, and to develop the participation possibilities of civil society. Finland participates in supporting the programme by granting 150,000 euros.

The Council of Europe has already begun to support the Ukrainian authorities, among others in investigating human rights violations in Maidan and Odessa. The Venice Commission, Europe’s leading constitutional expert, issued its first opinion on the reform of the constitution of Ukraine already in July, and the Council of Europe will also participate in preparation of the forthcoming elections. 

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights is currently visiting Kiev and has also presented the wish of having the opportunity to verify the human rights situation in Crimea.

In cooperation with Ukraine, the Council of Europe utilizes its own network of experts and monitoring mechanisms, and it is possible that through this, Finnish experts will have an opportunity to support Ukraine’s future development.

For more information: Pekka Hyvönen, Finland’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, tel. +33 6 3005 0642