At today’s debate on EU local matters, the European People’s Party Group in the Committee of the Regions (EPP-CoR) reaffirmed its steadfast support for Ukraine and highlighted the essential role of cities and regions in the country’s recovery and future European integration.
Speaking during the debate on “A Balanced Development of Ukraine and EU Border Regions in the Context of Recovery of Ukraine,” Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk and EPP-CoR member, stressed the concrete impact of local cooperation through the EU-LEAD initiative, which this year entered its pilot phase. “This project is designed for Ukraine, and what is extremely important is that we already had 22 municipalities from 14 EU Member States training Ukrainian public authorities and administrative staff,” she said. “In Gdańsk, we are currently hosting EU-LEAD colleagues for two weeks, working together on EU project preparation, community challenges, and many practical aspects of local governance. Our Ukrainian partners told us clearly in Kreschov that they need this support – and it is something we can provide with relative ease and enormous impact.”
Dulkiewicz encouraged more European communities to join the programme next year, as the Committee of the Regions prepares to expand the initiative. “Strengthening the capacity and awareness of public services in Ukraine is crucial. I warmly invite colleagues from all European municipalities and regions to join this project and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery.”
EPP-CoR President Sari Rautio delivered a strong message of solidarity, underscoring that supporting Ukraine remains a defining responsibility for Europe’s local and regional leaders. “Allow me to express, on behalf of the EPP, our unwavering solidarity with Ukraine. This is not only Ukraine’s struggle – it is a question of destiny for the whole of Europe,” Rautio said. “We fully support every effort to strengthen the resilience of the Ukrainian people, to reinforce local democracy, and to ensure that cities and regions can play their vital role on the ground.”
Rautio also noted Finland’s extensive engagement in municipal partnerships with Ukraine. “I am proud to say that Finland has entered into many friendship city partnerships with Ukrainian municipalities. These partnerships are a concrete tool through which we can support citizens directly and uphold democracy where it begins – close to people’s daily lives. Everything strong and good in Europe stems from the local level, from communities, from the work done on the ground. That is why our cooperation matters.”
The EPP-CoR stressed that Ukraine’s reconstruction will only be successful if local and regional authorities are empowered with the knowledge, tools, and partnerships they need. Through initiatives such as EU-LEAD, friendship city programmes, and CoR-led cooperation mechanisms, Europe’s municipalities and regions are already demonstrating their ability to deliver rapid, targeted, and impactful support.