Ukrainian authorities, with EU support, continued consultations with partners in Slovakia and Latvia on Institutional Preparedness and Engagement of Citizens Abroad
A delegation of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and with the participation of representatives of Ukrainian embassies, carried out consultative visits to Slovakia and Latvia on 30 June-3 July 2026. The visits focused on legal, administrative, security and logistical aspects relevant to the organisation of out-of-country voting (OCV) in the context of Ukraine’s future post-war elections, as well as cooperation with host-country authorities and engagement with Ukrainian communities abroad.
The programme was organised within the EU-funded project INSPIRE UA – Inclusive Support for Participation, Involvement, Representation, and Engagement of Ukrainians Abroad, implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) from August 2025 to August 2026. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of Ukraine’s democratic institutions and ensure their integrity, transparency and resilience in the post-war period. Its design is based on the Roadmap on Functioning of Democratic Institutions, in particular the section on “Fair and free elections”, adopted by the Government of Ukraine in May 2025 as part of the country’s EU accession commitments.
In Bratislava, the Ukrainian delegation held consultations with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Police Force. Discussions focused on the legal, institutional and operational framework for organising out-of-country voting, including coordination among electoral authorities, diplomatic institutions and police. Particular attention was paid to the legal and practical conditions for establishing additional polling stations for Ukrainian citizens on Slovak territory, voter communication, and possible forms of institutional cooperation in preparation for Ukraine's future post-war elections. A dedicated meeting with MEMO 98 explored the organisation's experience in election-related media monitoring, countering disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and assessing information risks affecting electoral integrity. Discussions also addressed approaches to strengthening public trust in electoral processes and ensuring that voters receive accurate and reliable information in the context of future post-war elections in Ukraine.
In Riga, the delegation met with representatives of the Central Election Commission of Latvia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Police, and the State Security Service. Discussions explored Latvia's practical experience in organising out-of-country voting, including the establishment and administration of polling stations abroad, cooperation between electoral authorities, diplomatic institutions and security agencies, procedures for opening polling stations beyond diplomatic premises, and institutional coordination to ensure secure and well-organised electoral processes. A meeting with the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) provided an opportunity to exchange experience on safeguarding electoral integrity through oversight of political party and campaign financing, monitoring compliance with campaign regulations, and interinstitutional cooperation aimed at preventing corruption and strengthening transparency and public trust in electoral processes.
Dedicated meetings with Ukrainian communities in Bratislava and Riga enabled an exchange on participation challenges, accessibility of polling locations, the potential need for additional polling stations, recruitment and training of election commission members abroad, voter communication, and cooperation between Ukrainian communities, diplomatic missions and host-country authorities in preparation for Ukraine's future post-war elections.
The consultative visits to Slovakia and Latvia further strengthened institutional dialogue, enhanced mutual understanding of legal and operational requirements for out-of-country voting, and contributed to building practical partnerships with EU Member States. They also provided important insights into the scale and distribution of Ukrainian communities abroad and into coordination models that may inform further planning.
These visits form part of a broader EU-supported engagement under INSPIRE UA, through which Ukrainian stakeholders consult with counterparts in EU Member States to assess legal, logistical and security conditions for participation of Ukrainians abroad, negotiate host-country arrangements, and consult diaspora communities. Since September 2025, the INSPIRE UA project has supported consultative visits to 13 EU Member States. The project will also deliver a comprehensive report with best practices and recommendations in July 2026 to support further policy dialogue.
Building on the consultations in Slovakia and Latvia, the next and final consultative visits under the INSPIRE UA project are planned for Hungary on 9-10 July 2026. The conference to present the results of the project is planned for 28 July 2026.
For further details, please contact:
Lesia Nechyporenko (l.nechyporenko@idea.int, +38 068 128 0044)