ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy – is engaged in Ukraine in many ways and through partnership, programmes and networks. With the active support of the Region Lower Silesia (Poland) and other European partners, we are working on the project for a Local Democracy Agency in Dnipropetrovsk.

In these last months, our partners and members followed with increasing concern the escalation of violence and the risk of a possible emergence of a civil war, entangled in a scary scenario of international conflicts.

Considering our long experience in the Balkans (since 1993), ALDA and its partners involved in our activities in Ukraine are calling for all the parties involved to address with high sense of responsibility the situation, and to support all the possible options to avoid a civil war, which is certainly among the most painful and long lasting scenarios. We are calling for a stronger involvement of the European Union – despite the unfortunate time where most of the institutions are in the process of being re-elected. The European Union has a third path to offer, and needs to become a strong supporter for a democratic Ukraine, positioning itself as a credible and reliable partner with Russia. We consider the transition in Ukraine not finalized yet and at this point, it is fundamental to best support the upcoming elections on 25th of May to stabilize the country, and empower it to ensure security and democracy in the whole territory.

In this context, and in the sequence of steps to bring back the situation on track, we consider fundamental that the process of decentralisation and strengthening of democratic, accountable regional and local authorities – within the framework of a clear unity of the country – will be continued, as it is in line with the policies already studied by the government.

ALDA and the Partners of the future LDA in Dnipropetrovsk are committed and involved in this difficult process.

For further information please contact:
Irene Zanetti
Communication officer, ALDA
Tel: +39 0444 540 146 Mob: +39 347 3509 887
Email: irene.zanetti@aldaintranet.org