On 27 May, the Ukrainian Parliament supported a package of legislative decisions that are directly linked to European integration, transparent reconstruction, stronger local self-government and the legal regulation of military service by foreign citizens defending Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has supported a number of legislative initiatives that reflect several key priorities of the state during wartime: alignment with European Union standards, transparent use of public and international funds, stronger local government capacity and clearer legal procedures for foreign citizens serving in Ukraine’s defence forces.
The decisions adopted on 27 May should not be seen as isolated votes. Together, they show how Ukraine is trying to build more resilient institutions while simultaneously resisting Russia’s full-scale aggression, preparing for reconstruction and moving forward on its European integration path.
The parliamentary decisions of 27 May combine three practical dimensions of Ukraine’s wartime governance — transparent reconstruction, stronger local communities and legal support for the country’s defence capacity.
A new public procurement law as part of Ukraine’s European integration track
One of the key decisions was the adoption of the new Law of Ukraine “On Public Procurement”, registration No. 11520. The law provides for a comprehensive update of Ukraine’s public procurement system, taking into account European standards and the requirements of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.
According to the official information of the Verkhovna Rada, the adopted law is one of the important European integration acts and an element of Ukraine’s negotiation process on its path to EU membership. Its provisions are aimed at implementing European standards in the field of public procurement, further approximation of national legislation to EU law and harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with the legal framework of the European Union.
For Ukraine, public procurement is not merely a technical administrative procedure. It is one of the central mechanisms through which budgetary resources, donor funds and international assistance for reconstruction will be transformed into actual works, services and supplies. This includes infrastructure, medical facilities, educational institutions, housing, energy resilience, transport projects and local public services.
The new law is expected to strengthen transparency, competition and accountability in the use of public funds. In a wartime and post-war reconstruction context, this has a direct political meaning: the more transparent and predictable the procurement system is, the stronger the trust of citizens, businesses and international partners will be.
Why this matters: reconstruction will require significant public and international resources. Transparent procurement rules are therefore essential for preventing corruption risks, ensuring fair competition and demonstrating to international partners that Ukraine can manage reconstruction funds responsibly.
The draft law No. 11520 was adopted in the second reading and as a whole. According to the voting results published on the official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada, the decision was supported by 245 Members of Parliament; there were no votes against, while 11 MPs abstained.
This result demonstrates the political significance of procurement reform. In the context of Ukraine’s European integration, the issue is not only about improving tender procedures, but also about proving the state’s ability to operate according to standards expected from a future EU member state.
International technical assistance and the role of local communities
Another important decision was the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Stimulating the Participation of Local Self-Government Bodies in the Implementation of International Technical Assistance Programmes and Projects and International Territorial Cooperation”, registration No. 10284.
The purpose of this law is to encourage local self-government bodies to participate more actively in international technical assistance programmes and projects, as well as in interregional, cross-border and transnational cooperation. Such programmes may be implemented with the support of the European Union, foreign governments, foreign municipalities, international organisations and donor institutions, excluding the aggressor state.
This decision is especially important for Ukrainian communities. During the war and the reconstruction period, local authorities are expected to prepare projects, communicate with donors, administer grants, comply with reporting requirements and implement programmes in accordance with international standards. In practice, this creates an additional workload for local officials and requires a higher level of administrative capacity.
The law introduces a mechanism of additional payments to local self-government officials for the extra workload related to the implementation of international technical assistance programmes and international territorial cooperation projects. Such payments may be made within the relevant budgets and may be financed from budget support, assistance or grants provided by international partners.
The procedure for such payments will be established by local councils on the basis of a model procedure approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The law is expected to enter into force three months after its publication.
For local self-government, this law may become a practical incentive to strengthen project teams, attract international support and improve the implementation of reconstruction, development and cross-border cooperation initiatives.
The draft law No. 10284 was adopted in the second reading and as a whole. According to the voting results, the decision was supported by 234 Members of Parliament, with no votes against and 11 abstentions.
For international partners, this decision is also relevant. It signals that Ukraine understands the importance of local administrative capacity. Donor-funded projects do not succeed only because funding is available; they succeed when communities have professional teams capable of preparing, implementing and reporting on projects properly.
Military medical examination for foreign volunteers
The Verkhovna Rada also adopted as a basis draft law No. 15015, which proposes to regulate the issue of military medical examination for foreign citizens who plan to serve or are already serving in Ukraine.
The draft law is designed to create a legal framework for determining fitness for military service, establishing the causal link between diseases, wounds or injuries and military service, and defining the need for medical and social rehabilitation and assistance.
According to the official parliamentary information, the initiative was proposed by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The need for legislative regulation arises from the fact that confirmation of fitness for military service is a mandatory condition for foreign citizens serving in Ukraine, but the organisation of military medical examinations for this category of persons had not been properly regulated at the legislative level.
The military medical examination is expected to be conducted by military medical commissions established at territorial recruitment and social support centres, healthcare institutions of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other security and defence sector bodies, as well as at state and municipal healthcare institutions.
Defence dimension: the draft law addresses a practical gap in the legal framework for foreign citizens who support Ukraine’s defence. Clear medical and legal procedures are important both for the state and for those who volunteer to serve.
This initiative has a broader significance than a technical medical procedure. Foreign volunteers who serve in Ukraine are part of the international solidarity that has emerged in response to Russia’s aggression. The state must therefore ensure that their participation in military service is supported by clear rules, including medical examination, assessment of service-related injuries and access to rehabilitation mechanisms.
Three decisions within one broader governance agenda
Although the three legislative decisions concern different policy fields, they are connected by a common governance logic. The public procurement law concerns the transparent use of public and international funds. The law on international technical assistance strengthens the ability of local communities to work with partners. The draft law on military medical examination supports clearer legal procedures in the defence sector.
Together, these decisions reflect the reality of Ukraine’s wartime state-building. The country must simultaneously defend itself, maintain public institutions, prepare for reconstruction, build trust with partners and implement European integration commitments.
For citizens, these issues may seem distant from everyday life. However, their practical consequences are direct. Procurement rules influence the quality and transparency of public spending. International assistance mechanisms affect the ability of communities to attract resources. Clear medical procedures for foreign volunteers influence the functioning of the defence system and the treatment of those who stand with Ukraine.
Regional significance
For Ukrainian regions, the adopted decisions are particularly relevant. Reconstruction will largely take place at the local level: in municipalities, communities, districts and regions affected by the war. Local authorities will be responsible for preparing projects, carrying out procurement, engaging with donors and ensuring that public money produces visible results for residents.
The new public procurement framework will shape how reconstruction contracts are awarded and implemented. The law on international technical assistance may help local governments build stronger project teams and participate more effectively in grant programmes. The defence-related draft law contributes to the legal infrastructure of wartime resilience.
According to Ruslan Shamrin, deputy of the Kryvyi Rih City Council and member of the Standing Commission of the Kryvyi Rih City Council on the Implementation of the City Development Strategy and Investments, the practical value of such parliamentary decisions will depend on whether local communities are able to turn new legal instruments into real projects. Transparent procurement, professional project preparation and the ability to work with international partners should become part of everyday local governance.
This regional perspective is important because national laws are tested not only in ministries or parliamentary committees, but also in communities where schools, hospitals, roads, shelters and utility systems must be rebuilt. The effectiveness of legislation will ultimately be measured by whether citizens see better services, more transparent decisions and stronger local capacity.
The parliamentary decisions of 27 May show that Ukraine’s legislative agenda remains broad even under wartime conditions. The Verkhovna Rada is working not only on urgent defence-related issues, but also on the institutional foundations of reconstruction, European integration and local development.
The adoption of the new public procurement law is a signal to society and international partners that Ukraine understands the importance of transparent rules for reconstruction. The law on international technical assistance for communities recognises that local governments need both responsibility and motivation to implement international projects. The draft law on military medical examination for foreign volunteers addresses a practical legal gap in the defence sector.
Editorial conclusion: these decisions demonstrate that Ukraine is not waiting for the end of the war to modernise its institutions. It is building European-compatible rules, strengthening local capacity and improving defence-related legal procedures while continuing to resist Russian aggression.
