THE PUBLIC COUNCIL AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF UKRAINE

The public Council at the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ukraine - an Advisory body formed under the MFA of Ukraine with the purpose of coordination of activities associated with providing for consultation with the public on the issues of formation and realization of state policy in the sphere of foreign relations of Ukraine.

The Council aims to contribute to further deepening of cooperation of the Ministry with citizen groups, governments and the media. Cooperation of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ukraine and public organizations allows for greater involvement of the public in the country to the formation and implementation of government decisions in foreign policy.

The main tasks of the Council are:

the promotion of the realization of citizens ' constitutional rights to participate in the management of public Affairs;
the mainstream public opinion in the process of preparation and organization of implementation of the MFA of Ukraine.

Glad entrusted to it according to the main tasks:

• prepares and submits suggestions to an indicative plan consultation with the public;
• delivers deals on the date of public public discussions;
• delivers deals on consultations with the public on matters not provided for in the indicative plan;
• develops and submits proposals to the plan of holding a public consultation on a specific topic with a list of questions, terms and stages of the procedure for publication of information on the consultations and their results;
• carries out other activities for the organization and conduct of public consultation according to the Procedure for holding public consultations on the issues of formation and implementation of public policy, the approved Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated November 03, 2010 № 996;
• processes based on the results of consultations with the public suggestions and comments on the issues of formation and realization of state policy in the sphere of external relations of Ukraine and submit them in accordance with the established procedure of foreign Affairs of Ukraine;
• systematically informs the public, in particular through the media, about its activities, decisions and the status of their implementation.

The Council to fulfil its mandated tasks has the right to:

• to receive from the Ukrainian foreign Ministry information necessary for its work;
• to establish permanent and temporary working bodies (committees, commissions, expert groups) in accordance with the directions of the Council;
• to involve in its work representatives of the MFA of Ukraine, enterprises, institutions and organizations, domestic and international expert and scientific organizations (with the consent of their leaders), as well as individual experts.
• conduct Assembly, conferences, meetings.

The Council included representatives of public organizations, trade unions and other associations of citizens, local governments, and the media.

The Council is headed by a Chairman elected by Council members for a term of two years. Chairman of the Board has deputies who are elected from among the members of the Council on the proposal.

The Council operates in accordance with its work plans. The main form of work of the Council meetings are held as necessary but not less frequently than once a quarter. The Council meeting has a quorum if attended by at least half of its members. In meetings of the Board may participate the heads of Central and local Executive authorities.

The decision of the Board shall be effective if it is taken by open ballot by a simple majority vote of its members present at the meeting. In case of equal division of votes, the casting vote of the Chairman of the meeting.

The provision of the Secretariat of the Council for a premises, means of communication, creation of necessary conditions for work of the Board and its meetings shall exercise the MFA of Ukraine.