IDM Director discusses deepened cooperation with Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

On 29 April 2026, the leadership of the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine welcomed Sebastian Schäffer for a working meeting in Kyiv, continuing IDM’s long standing engagement with partners across Central and Eastern Europe and reaffirming the importance of expert exchange in times of geopolitical transformation. 

The discussions focused on the role of parliamentary research institutions in strengthening democratic resilience, supporting evidence based policymaking and fostering informed public debate under wartime conditions and in the context of Ukraine’s ongoing European integration process. Particular attention was given to the growing need for reliable analytical expertise and international expert networks capable of supporting strategic decision making in periods of political uncertainty and accelerated reform. 

The meeting also explored possibilities for closer cooperation between the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe and Ukrainian parliamentary experts in areas such as EU enlargement, regional security, resilience against disinformationand democratic transformation in the wider Danube and Black Sea region. Both sides underlined the value of connecting academic research, policy expertise and parliamentary practice in order to strengthen institutional capacity and regional cooperation. 

During the visit, Sebastian Schäffer presented IDM’s current activities and research priorities, including the institute’s work on European integration, regional cooperation and societal resilience in Central and Eastern Europe. The exchange also providedan opportunity to discuss how think tanks and parliamentary research services can contribute to maintaining democratic continuity and institutional trust during periods of war and reconstruction. 

The visit formed part of IDM’s broader efforts to deepen dialogue with Ukrainian institutions and experts and to support Ukraine’s European future through sustained cooperation, exchange of expertise and joint initiatives. 

IDM warmly thanks Dr Lesia Vaolevska, Tetiana Drushchenko and the entire team of the Research Service for their hospitality and the open, constructive discussions in Kyiv. 

Further information is available via the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine