Council of Europe launches International Claims Commission for Ukraine
Council of Europe meeting in The Hague, Dec. 16 (Photo: www.coe.int)
Thirty-five countries and the European Union signed a convention under the Council of Europe (CoE) to create an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, the CoE announced on Dec. 16.
The diplomatic conference in The Hague drew leaders and senior officials from more than 50 nations, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Today, finally, Ukraine is getting mechanisms that should have been in place long ago, at least since 2014,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy also urged the international community to maintain pressure on Russia as long as Ukrainian territory remains under occupation.
“Every day Russia is deliberately bombarding homes, destroying businesses and damaging infrastructure in Ukraine,” said Dutch PM Dick Schoof.
“Russia must compensate Ukraine for the damage caused. That is why we have launched the International Claims Commission for Ukraine and we are honored to host it.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry noted the 35 signatories is “a record number.”
“Ukraine’s position is principled and consistent: the aggressor state must pay for war damages, and frozen sovereign assets of the Russian Federation should become the primary source for future payments—as a real step toward justice for those harmed,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Council of Europe reiterated that the international framework consists of three elements:
- A special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine;
- A Register of Damage for Ukraine;
- The International Claims Commission for Ukraine.
The commission will operate as an independent body under CoE auspices. It will review claims for losses, damages and harm resulting from Russia’s internationally wrongful acts against Ukraine, and determine compensation amounts case by case, European officials said.
The commission will draw on the existing registry of losses, which already accepts submissions from Ukrainian citizens via the Diia e-governance app.
“Claims already filed with the registry will be transferred to and reviewed by the commission,” the Council said.
“They cover more than 40 categories of damage, loss, or harm inflicted since Feb. 24, 2022, within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders—from individuals and businesses to Ukraine itself, including its regional and local authorities and state entities.”
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