A Modern European Parliament. To the Rada (parliament) to launch a seminar organised by the embassy and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on "Working in a Modern European Parliament".  This is part of a major embassy project designed to help improve the workings of the Rada and feels particularly timely with presidential elections in the air (see 7 June).  A team of Westminster MPs led by John Grogan, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Ukraine Group, has come out to lead two days of discussions covering practical subjects including legislative procedures, the role of the opposition and the responsibilities of MPs.  There is some jollity about the fact that today is the day that details of British MPs' expenses are to be published on the Internet.  Fortunately the Ukrainian side is taking a close interest in the project, and I am pleased to see that the large room where we open the seminar is full and includes senior Ukrainian parliamentarians as well as many members of the Rada secretariat.  In my speech (in Ukrainian) I note that no matter how many years of democratic experience you may have - years, decades or centuries - there is always scope for improvement.