Ombudsman meets Ukrainian delegation under TIPS4UA project

Ombudsman meets Ukrainian delegation under TIPS4UA project

Published September 18, 2025

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, today met with a delegation of Ukrainian municipal leaders visiting Malta as part of the TIPS4UA initiative, coordinated locally by the Local Councils’ Association.

The delegation, composed of Mr Oleksii Ostroverkhov (Mariupol City Council), Mr Heorhii Drohobetskyi (Polyana Village Council) and Ms Lesia Soliak (Truskavets City Council), was accompanied by Mr Mario Fava from the Local Councils’ Association.

TIPS4UA is an international cooperation programme launched by the European Committee of the Regions in partnership with U-LEAD with Europe. The project was developed in response to calls made at the Ukrainian Recovery Conferences following the Russian aggression in 2022. It is designed to build resilience and enhance the administrative capacity of Ukrainian municipalities, equipping them to manage reconstruction and modernisation efforts. The programme provides targeted training in project preparation and cycle management, internship placements with European local authorities, and knowledge-sharing platforms to foster long-term cooperation.

During the meeting, the Ombudsman explained the constitutional role and function of his Office, its independence, how the Ombudsman is appointed, and its close accountability to Parliament. He emphasised how the Ombudsman serves as a promoter of good governance, transparency, and fairness in public administration, ensuring that citizens’ rights are respected and upheld.

Judge Zammit McKeon also spoke about the strong cooperation between his Office and the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Ukraine, noting that Mr Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, works closely with him within the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) European Regional Board, where they both serve as Directors, as well as within the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsman.

He underlined that Mr Lubinets will be in Malta in October to address the international Ombudsman conference marking the 30th Anniversary of the Maltese Office.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the Ukrainian delegation to gain insights into Malta’s governance structures and accountability mechanisms, while also opening the door for future peer-to-peer cooperation.