Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and the Netherlands signed the Convention on the establishment of an international compensation commission for Ukraine during a conference held under the auspices of the Council of Europe.
The Council of Europe adopted the Convention as part of efforts to create the International Claims Commission to compensate damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. The document establishes the legal framework for the functioning of the International Commission, which will examine compensation claims submitted by Ukraine and affected entities.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popsoi, Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Netherlands, Davin van Weel, became the first signatories of the Convention.
The compensation mechanism builds on the Register of Damage for Ukraine, created in 2023 to collect and record compensation claims. The Register receives applications from individuals, organizations, and public institutions in Ukraine affected by the war.
So far, 44 states and the European Union have joined the Register of Damage for Ukraine, which has already recorded more than 80,000 claims. Earlier this year, the Netherlands and Ukraine, with the support of the Council of Europe, launched official negotiations on establishing the International Claims Commission.
More than 50 interested states, together with the European Union, participated in drafting the Convention. Other countries and regional organizations can also sign the document. The International Claims Commission will examine, assess, and decide on claims submitted to the Register of Damage and determine the amount of compensation where applicable. The Convention will enter into force after at least 25 signatories ratify it and after the necessary funds are secured to support the commission’s initial activities.