PACE urges member states to earmark 10% of Ukraine recovery funds for veterans' rehabilitation

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in a resolution adopted at its session on 29 September, called on member states to allocate at least 10% of their funding earmarked for Ukraine's reconstruction to the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans.

"Support for veterans constitutes one of the greatest social challenges facing Ukraine," the PACE press service reports.

The Assembly called on member states to allocate at least 10% of their national funding earmarked for Ukraine's reconstruction to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of veterans and civilians with disabilities.

PACE also called on the Ukrainian authorities, with support from member states, to develop a single transparent mechanism for accessing benefits and services. This would bring together long-term rehabilitation, psychological support, home care, housing adaptations, professional reintegration and accessible infrastructure.

More broadly, PACE called for a comprehensive minimum support package for veterans covering physical and mental health, rehabilitation, employment, education, housing and social protection, including at least three years of enhanced, coordinated support after leaving military service.

It also called on member states to ensure that veterans' rights apply across borders, strengthen support for families and former prisoners of war, and assist Ukraine in consolidating its veterans' support system.

Ukraine was previously reported to be planning to raise the issue of Russian compensation in cases before the European Court of Human Rights at the PACE session.

PACE has also proposed a way to transfer frozen Russian funds to Ukraine on the basis of rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.