Vitalii Bezgin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine, met with Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, on the second day of the Congress session.

During the meeting, the parties discussed support for communities ahead of winter, in particular frontline communities, the development of horizontal partnerships and the Carpathian Initiative. The Minister stated that Ukraine has been and remains one of the top priorities for the Congress.

The parties also agreed to hold a high-level dialogue in early 2027. Topics for discussion include the transition from military administrations to civilian governance and the strategy for temporarily occupied territories, which is due to be updated by the end of the year. As Vitalii Bezgin pointed out, the Congress is ready to provide expert and financial support.

The parties also discussed the finalisation of the legal framework for decentralisation. Draft Law No. 14412 “On the Principles of Delineation and Distribution of Powers between Levels of Public Authority” is intended to define how powers are distributed between the state, regions, and communities. According to the Minister, the document is undergoing preparation for its second reading.