Council of Europe sets up commission to compensate Ukraine for war damages

Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, announced the launch of an International Claims Commission to help Ukraine receive compensation for damages caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The commission forms the second part of a broader compensation mechanism, building on the existing Register of Damage for Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports citing the Council of Europe.

“The Council of Europe and partners have been supporting Ukraine in resisting Russia’s full-scale aggression since day one,” Berset said.

“Working together, we must now be ready to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace. The Register of Damage for Ukraine and the International Claims Commission will be the independent international tools dealing with the question of compensation for Russia’s war.”

The commission, established within the framework of the Council of Europe, will also be open to other countries. It will review, assess, and decide on claims submitted to the register, determining compensation amounts where applicable.

Created in 2023, the Register of Damage for Ukraine has already collected more than 80,000 claims from individuals, organisations, and public bodies. So far, 44 countries and the European Union have joined.

Formal negotiations on the commission were convened earlier this year by the Netherlands and Ukraine, with Council of Europe support. More than 50 countries and the EU helped draft the convention establishing the commission.

The framework will enter into force once 25 signatories ratify it, and sufficient funding is secured to support its initial operations, with room for other countries and regional organisations to join later.

By Aghakazim Guliyev