INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

1
The Future of Political Reforms in Ukraine
26 September 2014

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Institute of International Relations
36/1 Melnykova Street, Kyiv

08.45 - 09.05 Registration

09.05 - 09.20 Welcome

Mykola Gnatovsky, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Michael Meyer-Resende, Democracy Reporting International, Berlin
Richard Nygaard Scarborough, Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission, the Royal Norwegian
Embassy in Kyiv [confirmed]

09.20 - 09.35 Keynotes

H.E. Ambassador Tombiski, Delegation of the EU to Ukraine [invited]
Valeriy Kopiyka, Director of the Institute of International Relations [confirmed]

9.35 10.50 PANEL I. Fading into the background? The Future of Constitutional Reforms

Constitutional reform is the cornerstone of political reforms in Ukraine. While Parliament restored the
2004 constitution on 21 February 2014, plans for a swift and wider reform this year did not come to
fruition. Ways to strengthen the democratic character of the constitution have been debated since two
decades. They are well-known and have been reiterated by the Venice Commission in numerous
opinions. Will it be possible for the new parliament to undertake these reforms swiftly and
transparently or has the momentum already petered out? What is the role of the constitutional
amendments proposed by President Poroshenko?


Panelists:
Volodymyr Butkevytch, former judge at the European Court of Human Rights [invited]
Ihor Koliushko, Head of the Centre for Political and Legal Reforms, expert in Public Law and
Constitutional Reform [invited]

Moderation:
Stanislav Shevchuk, Judge at the Constitutional Court of Ukraine [confirmed]

10.50 11.20 Coffee break

11.20 12.35 PANEL II. Creating Legitimacy The Way forward on Electoral Reforms

There appears to be a broad consensus in Ukraine that electoral reforms are needed. The
OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission in the past indicated that extensive revisions are
essential. There are two levels of reforms: First, the electoral system for parliamentary elections. The
current mixed proportional-majoritarian system is considered to be unsuitable by many stakeholders.
Many demand a regional-proportional, open-list system. Is this the emerging consensus and how
could an amendment process by the new parliament look like? Second, the legal framework
determining the process for parliamentary and presidential elections has serious shortcomings.
Ukrainian experts as well as the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR pointed at many problems,
including: a fragmented legal framework (no uniform election law); limitations to stand as a candidate
in elections; lack of political pluralism in lower-level election commissions; only weak mechanisms on
campaign financing and unclear rules on invalidating elections. Should these technical changes be
made fast and de-coupled from the electoral system debate or should there be one package to effect
long-demanded electoral reforms? In this panel we want to focus on the process: Assess if there is an
INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

2


emerging consensus and how a reform process could look like, rather than a discussion on the
substance of reforms.

Panelists:
Yuri Kliuchkovsky, Director of Institute for Election Law, Expert, Reanimation Package of
Reforms [invited]
Andriy Magera, Deputy Head of Central Election Commission [confirmed]

Moderation:
Olexander Zadorozhny, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Professor in
International law [confirmed]

12.35 -13.50 Panel III. Decentralization as Constitutional Issue: Risk and Chances.

The need for de-centralisation has long been clear but now taken an entirely new political dimension
as illustrated in the agreements in Minsk on 5 September 2014 and adoption of the law on the special
status of Donetsk and Lugansk regions on 16 September 2014. While there appears to be a
consensus that the local level must be much strengthened, the future role of regions appears to be
more controversial. How does the new law on Donetsk and Lugansk fit into a wider future reform?
How are the prospects that the new parliament will adopt a de-centralisation reform and how is it
connected to constitutional reforms?


Panelists:
Anatoliy Tkachuk, former Minister for Regional Policy and former Member of Parliament
[invited]
Mykhailo Baimuratov, Head of Department of Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and
International Law, Mariupol State University [invited]

Moderation:
Mykola Koziubra, former judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine [invited]


13.50 14.00 Wrap-up and recommendations



Language of the conference: Ukrainian / English

Registration: Please send the e-mail with the subject line Registration until 24 September 2014 to:
r.vovk@democracy-reporting.org





The project is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.