European Parliament to launch office in Kyiv
The European Parliament has decided to open an office in Kyiv to develop closer cooperation with the Ukrainian parliament, EU news outlet Euractiv reported on November 21.
The decision was reportedly made earlier on Nov. 21, aimed at facilitating relations with the Verkhovna Rada, particularly in connecting with relevant committees in the European Parliament, as well as easing administrative work.
Each member state in the European Parliament has a liaison office to assist the parliament in working with member states, such as communicating with stakeholders, organizing events, and maintaining relations with local media.
According to the document, only a few European Parliament offices have been created in non-European cities, including New York, Addis Ababa, and Jakarta, where parliamentary staff are seconded to EU delegations.
An EU delegation in any country outside the European Union serves as a diplomatic mission of the EU on the territory under the aegis of the European External Action Service.
The article further says that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola to open a representative office in Ukraine during her visit to Lviv on March 4. The matter was raised again in late April by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk.