Ukraine Establishes Parliamentary Council for Cooperation With Poland
The advisory body will focus on reconstruction, European integration, economic ties and closer cooperation between the Ukrainian and Polish parliaments.
Ukrainian Parliament Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk signed Order No. 1519 on November 12 establishing a Council for Cooperation with the Republic of Poland. The new consultative body will operate under the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada. inPoland.net.pl reported the decision on Friday, November 13.
Lawmaker Mykola Kniazhytskyi was appointed to lead the council, while diplomat and deputy head of the parliamentary administration Markiyan Lubkivskyi became his deputy. Iryna Handziuk, who heads the All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum, will serve as secretary.
The council is tasked with drafting proposals on Ukraine’s recovery, EU integration and bilateral economic cooperation. It will also examine contentious issues in relations with Warsaw and seek to strengthen contacts between the Verkhovna Rada and Poland’s Sejm and Senate.
Its membership brings together diplomats, academics, business figures and representatives of the media, cultural and civic sectors with experience in Ukrainian-Polish affairs. Members will serve on a voluntary basis, contribute to legislation and research, and meet at least once every quarter. Stefanchuk said similar councils were planned to deepen cooperation with other countries.