Cities and regions press for sharper focus on local role in Ukraine’s recovery

Statement by European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine comes on the eve of a key donor meeting.

The European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine on 24 June urged the Ukrainian government and international partners to assess and address the needs of Ukrainian municipalities and regions more fully, to recognise municipalities and regions as strategic partners and decision-makers in Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts, and to improve coordination of support at the local and regional level.

The 100 members of Alliance issued their call in a Joint Statement at a meeting in Gdańsk on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), the principal event of the year focused on Ukraine's reconstruction and modernisation in response to Russia's full-scale invasion. The Alliance meeting was attended by representatives of the Ukraine Donor Platform - a G7-led initiative to coordinate financing and assistance for Ukraine - and the gathering provided an opportunity for the governments of France and Germany, with the support of the government of Poland, to launch a call for proposals for municipalities from 'Weimar Triangle' countries (Germany, France, and Poland) that wish to establish partner projects with Ukrainian municipalities.

The Joint Statement by the Alliance, which includes Ukrainian and EU territorial associations, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, individual cities and regions and other organisations, calls for:

• Recognition of municipalities and regions as being at the core of Ukraine's resilience: The statement emphasises that Ukrainian local and regional authorities (LRAs) play a "decisive role in keeping communities functioning and connected", sustaining essential services, strengthening energy and water security, supporting innovation and coordinating humanitarian assistance while planning for long-term recovery. The statement calls for reinforced support for "win-win partnerships" between Ukrainian and EU municipalities and regions, and for stronger coordination of European support, particularly in responding to Ukraine's energy needs.
• Recognition of regional policy and good governance as being critical: Local and regional self-government and decentralisation is "key" to Ukraine’s resilience and "a fundamental pillar" of Ukraine’s path to recovery and EU accession, the statement says. The Alliance urges the Ukrainian government to consult LRAs through "inclusive platforms" and to include LRA representatives in key recovery planning and governance structures. It calls for systematic engagement with the Ukraine Donor Platform and for a stronger local and regional dimension of the World Bank-led Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment Report. Sustained international investment to build up the capacity of municipalities and regions will be required, the statement says.
• Recognition of the potential offered by cooperation between regions: The statement underscores that cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation can "accelerate" Ukraine’s recovery and "foster territorial and socio-economic cohesion through joint projects in infrastructure, public services, crisis and disaster risk preparedness". The Alliance encourages greater use of EU programmes and platforms, highlights the need for special support for EU regions neighbouring Ukraine "in view of their role in supporting Ukraine’s military efforts and reconstruction", and for the EU to extend programmes to include currently ineligible Ukrainian regions.
• Recognition of the need for stronger coordination with local and regional authorities: The Alliance calls for closer involvement of municipalities and regions in needs assessments, for ringfenced and transparent funding for local development, and for better and more coordinated use of existing tools and mechanisms that support peer-to-peer partnerships, public investment and monitoring. The statement highlights the importance of investing in human capital, supporting displaced persons and refugees, and engaging the Ukrainian diaspora.

The full statement is available for download.

The European Committee of the Regions is a co-founder of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and serves as its secretariat.

Quotes:

• Antje Grotheer, President of Bremen State Parliament and chair of the CoR's Working Group on Ukraine, speaking on behalf of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine: "Municipalities and regions should be recognised as strategic partners in the planning and implementation of recovery support. What does that mean in practical terms?First, we need to be heard by donors and institutional partners. In this regard, our main plea to the Ukraine Donor Platform is to consider a more systematic dialogue with the local and regional authorities. Second, the needs of municipalities and regions must be properly assessed. To this end, the World Bank should consider a dedicated section on the local and regional needs in the annual Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment reports. Third, the needs of municipalities and regions must be properly addressed. Here, I need to emphasise the importance of continued decentralisation. It has been key for Ukraine's much-admired resilience and its ability to keep communities functioning - but it is not a done deal. Finally, we feel there is an increasing need for stronger coordination of support that targets municipalities and regions. It would be useful to be able to connect the dots between the needs and available support instruments and offer related guidance to municipalities and regions as well as the donors."
• Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Rebuilding and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine: "Ukraine is in a unique position. We are defending our country against Russian aggression, rebuilding our local communities and regions, and preparing for future membership in the European Union. All at the same time. Local communities have become the foundation of Ukraine's resilience. We are entering a new stage, moving from responding to the consequences of the war towards building long-term resilience and development. This approach is at the heart of the local and regional dimension of URC 2026. We will discuss how to move from plans to results, from ideas to implementation, and from rebuilding to creating resilient communities and regions for the future, and about the unique experience of Ukrainian communities, which can help strengthen resilience across Europe."
• Paweł Kowal, Chairman of the Polish Government's Council for Cooperation with Ukraine: "Recovery is not only about rebuilding; it is also about reconstruction of social life and from that point of view, the role of self-government - especially cities and regions - is crucial. I am happy that we decided and to expand the local and regional element in this year's Ukrainian Recovery Conference. I would highlight two important elements for me. First, the need for trained people in cities prepared for cooperation with Western partners, banks, and international organisations. Second, the role of border regions. These regions have carried significant responsibilities since the beginning of Russia's aggression, but they will play a special role in the potential transfer of know-how and technologies and as a bridge between the EU and NATO."
• Aleksandra Dulkiewicz (PL/EPP), mayor of Gdańsk and former chair of the Working Group on Ukraine: "Seventy percent of EU law is implemented at the local level. So it is extremely important to build up the ability of public services on local and regional levels. I'm also very happy that we are increasing numbers of partnerships with local and regional authorities. But there is still a lot to be done. Thirdly, from the European Union side, it is extremely important to learn how to build resilient communities. This is something that Ukrainian partners can bring to our societies and to our public administration."

Background

• Full text: ‘Joint Statement on Empowering Local and Regional Authorities for the Reconstruction and Future EU Accession of Ukraine’ by the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction.
• Recording: The political-level meeting of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction can be re-watched on the website of the European Committee of the Regions. Photos are also available. For additional video material, please contact the European Committee of the Regions.
• Ukraine Recovery Conference: The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) was established after Russia's full-scale invasion, building on the foundations of the annual Ukraine Reform Conference established in 2017 by friends of Ukraine, including the European Union. In 2022, the URC was held in Lugano, setting the principles for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. In London in 2023, the URC focused on recovery plans, war insurance, and reforms. In Berlin in 2024 and Rome in 2025, the URC focused on the business, human, local and regional, and EU dimensions of Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, reform, and modernisation of Ukraine. The URC 2026 in Gdańsk has five thematic dimensions, including a local and regional dimension focused on building resilient communities through sustainable urban and rural development, modernised housing, decentralised energy systems, and strengthened local economies. The other themes are security and defence, and the business, human, and EU integration dimensions.
• European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction: The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) co-founded the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine in June 2022; other co-founders include the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

Contact

Andrew Gardner

Tel: +32 473 843 981

andrew.gardner@cor.europa.eu