EU Supports Inclusive Dialogue on Strengthening Ukraine’s Post-War Democratic Resilience

EU Supports Inclusive Dialogue on Strengthening Ukraine's Post-War Democratic Resilience

On December 15, 2025, Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) convened representatives from government, parliament, political parties, civil society, experts, and international partners for an open dialogue on priority electoral reforms. These reforms stem from election observation assessments conducted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) between 2014 and 2020. Addressing these recommendations is a core commitment under Ukraine's Functioning of Democratic Institutions (FDI) Roadmap and is essential for EU accession, as well as for ensuring free, fair, inclusive, and secure post-war democratic processes.

"Inclusive and transparent elections are the cornerstone of a democratic and resilient post-war Ukraine. The EU is therefore committed to supporting Ukraine's electoral preparedness and the key institutions to deliver free, fair and safe elections. By backing this expert dialogue, we are helping translate OSCE/ODIHR recommendations into practical reforms that strengthen Ukraine's democratic resilience," said Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

"Our country faces daily wartime challenges and destruction as a result of Russia's barbaric attacks. Yet, even under these conditions, Ukraine continues to build its democratic future and improve its electoral procedures. This demonstrates Ukraine's ability to advance democracy despite all the obstacles," - said Oleh Didenko, Chairman of the CEC.

The event showcased Ukraine's progress in fulfilling electoral obligations while outlining critical priorities moving forward. Stakeholders commended the CEC's proactive approach in presenting reform proposals to Parliament and stressed the urgency of resuming legislative work on electoral reforms. Discussions highlighted evolving post-war challenges, including resource constraints, the need to update the State Register of Voters, and safeguarding voting rights for displaced persons and military personnel. Experts also pointed to pending OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, such as revising rigid thresholds for invalidating results and recounts to ensure legal certainty and fairness.

Additionally, the dialogue addressed inclusivity in the electoral process, focusing on the barriers faced by individuals with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities.

This expert dialogue was organized by the CEC in partnership with IFES, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and ODIHR, with support from the EU and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).

Through the ongoing actions with IFES, International IDEA, OPORA and Estonian E-Governance Academy worth nearly €3 million, the EU continues to strengthen Ukraine's democratic resilience, including citizens' participation in political and governance processes, electoral preparedness, building strong institutions capable to ensure free, fair and safe post-war elections.

Detailed findings from the dialogue will be consolidated into a conclusion document. Civil society and the expert community are invited to contribute to this process by submitting proposals via the link. Deadline: December 20, 2025