Netherlands ratifies convention establishing International Compensation Commission for Ukraine
The Netherlands has completed ratification of the Council of Europe convention that creates an International Compensation Commission for damages caused by Russia's war against Ukraine. The Dutch Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe submitted the ratification instrument in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. With this step, nine countries plus the EU have now completed ratification; 25 are required for the convention to enter into force.
Key points
- The Netherlands completed ratification of the Council of Europe convention on the International Compensation Commission for Ukraine on 15 September 2026.
- Permanent Representative André Gaspel submitted the ratification instrument to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
- Nine countries plus the EU have now completed ratification; 25 ratifications are required for the convention to enter into force.
- The Netherlands led the negotiations on the convention and currently heads the preparatory committee established in February 2026.
- The Commission is planned to be located in The Hague.
- It will review and decide on claims submitted by victims through the Register of Damages.
- The convention has been signed by 40 countries.
Why it matters
The Netherlands' ratification moves the Council of Europe compensation mechanism closer to the threshold needed for it to take effect, while carrying extra symbolic weight because the Netherlands both led the negotiations and currently chairs the preparatory committee. With nine ratifications and the EU on board against a target of 25, the milestone illustrates both the momentum and the remaining gap before the Commission becomes operational.
What happened
On Tuesday, 15 September 2026, the Netherlands completed its official ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Establishment of the International Compensation Commission for Ukraine. The Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe, Ambassador André Gaspel, submitted the ratification instrument at the Council of Europe's headquarters in Strasbourg. The step brings the total number of countries that have completed ratification to nine, alongside the EU. Twenty-five ratifications are required for the convention to enter into force. The Convention itself has been signed by 40 countries. The Compensation Commission is planned to be based in The Hague and will consider and decide on claims submitted by victims within the framework of the Register of Damages.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ on the spelling of the Dutch Permanent Representative's surname: some render it 'André Gasperi', others 'André Gaspel'.
Background
A preparatory committee for the Commission was created in February 2026 by a decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Compensation Commission is planned to be located in The Hague and will review and decide on claims submitted by victims through the Register of Damages. At the end of August, the Register of Damages began accepting applications in several categories for the state of Ukraine, legal entities, and for loss of employment by individuals; in September it opened the remaining three business categories. The convention has been signed by 40 countries.