At a time when Ukraine’s resilience and European future remain at the heart of Europe’s agenda, local and regional leaders gathered in Prešov, Slovakia, for a CIVEX external seminar on “Ukraine’s path to EU integration and recovery: the role of regional cross-border cooperation.”
The central message echoed throughout the discussions was clear: regional and local authorities are indispensable partners in Ukraine’s EU accession and long-term recovery, particularly in border regions where cooperation is already shaping practical progress on the ground.
Hosted by Milan Majerský (SK/EPP), Chairman of the Prešov Self-Governing Region and Member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the event brought together CoR members, EU officials and Ukrainian leaders committed to strengthening cross-border links, supporting reforms, and ensuring that communities on both sides of the EU–Ukraine border benefit from deeper integration.
Majerský underlined the importance of returning to Europe’s founding values and connecting them with the needs of regions today, stating: “Europe was built on the basis of economic prosperity and peace. We live in times where Europe should come back to this basis, starting with the prosperity of its regions and directing funding where people really need them. We hope that Ukraine will soon also be on that path – a path to peace and fully-fledged membership of the EU with its culture and unique contribution to EU prosperity. We will be ready to assist the Ukrainian recovery with open hearts. The Slovak experience with EU accession could be valuable in this regard.”
Thibaut Guinard (FR/EPP), Mayor of Ploeuc-L'Hermitage and member of CoR's Working Group on Ukraine stressed the long-term commitment of European regions and municipalities: “The European Committee of the Regions wishes to turn the solidarity initiatives of local communities, born out of the war, into lasting partnerships. We also want to make local and regional authorities a driving force in the reconstruction of Ukraine and its path towards integration into the European Union. We can help our Ukrainian counterparts align their structures and practices with European standards, notably through the training of elected representatives and civil servants, as well as by providing enhanced support to territorial administrations.”
Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdank said: "Poland will host next Ukraine recovery conference (URC) in 2026 and the city of Gdansk is a candidate to welcome this important forum." When it comes to the priorities for Ukraine she mentioned: ''Decentralisation reform is part and parcel of EU accession. That is why we need to build and improve the capacity of regional and local administration in Ukraine. The CoR programme TIPS4UA is a concrete effort in that direction. The cities of Lviv and Gdansk already use this programme to cooperate, building public administration capacities, improving our readiness to absorb EU funding and develop meaningful programmes. ''
Throughout the seminar, speakers explored how neighbouring regions such as Zakarpattia and Prešov can deepen cooperation to support Ukraine’s European integration, how EU programmes and funding can help build resilient communities, and how the EU’s strategic instruments – including the Ukraine Facility – can drive a coordinated and sustainable recovery. Participants also reflected on the outcomes of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, emphasising the need for strong multilevel partnerships.
Among the high-level contributors were Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms at the European Commission, and Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine. Together with CoR members and regional officials, they discussed shared priorities: strengthening local governance, accelerating Ukraine’s EU-related reforms, supporting reconstruction, and ensuring that border regions become engines of integration and recovery.