Adrián Zittelli Ferrari (ES/EPP), member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), presented in the CIVEX commission a proposal from the Hands with Heart Foundation urging the European Union to strengthen support for neurorehabilitation and mental health restoration as a central pillar of Ukraine’s recovery.
In his intervention, Zittelli Ferrari stressed that while rebuilding infrastructure is essential, the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine will also depend on restoring the psychological and emotional wellbeing of its population – an area where current efforts remain insufficient. He noted that “rebuilding homes and infrastructure is relatively easy, the real challenge is going to be rebuilding people’s minds.”
The proposal highlights the unique role that the European Committee of the Regions can play by mobilising cities and regions to support Ukrainian local entities with practical, territorial solutions that can be implemented quickly and scaled up across the country. “This aspect of reconstruction cannot wait for the end of the conflict: it needs to be addressed now, in an urgent and coordinated manner.”
Local and regional action at the heart of Ukraine’s recovery
Speaking on behalf of the Region of Murcia, Zittelli Ferrari reiterated the region’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, particularly through cooperation with Ukrainian municipalities and local authorities. He emphasised that mental health must be treated as a priority in reconstruction, with direct consequences not only for Ukraine’s resilience but also for Europe’s future stability. The initiative presented to CIVEX proposes that the CoR and European regions contribute to a roadmap of pilot actions, enabling rapid implementation of mental restoration measures, evaluation of results, and replication across other territories.
About Hands with Heart Foundation
Hands with Heart is an international NGO with more than ten years of experience providing medical assistance and specialised rehabilitation in humanitarian contexts. The organisation has been active in Ukraine since before the full-scale invasion and has built strong operational capacity and trusted partnerships on the ground.
Its work combines direct medical care with strengthening local health systems, including training therapists and health professionals to ensure sustainable impact.
The Foundation’s work has received international recognition:
• 2021 – recognised as a good practice example contributing to five Sustainable Development Goals, notably in health, reduced inequalities and strengthening local systems
• 2024 – highlighted by the BBC for its concrete, human-centred impact in Ukraine during wartime
Hands with Heart’s activities include:
• provision of medicinal products
• logistics support and delivery of rehabilitation equipment
• specialised treatment for children with disabilities, amputees and combat medical personnel
• practical training workshops for health professionals and health science students
Based on field experience, the Foundation reports that the scale of trauma in the population far exceeds the current response, despite existing initiatives.
Over the past three years, Hands with Heart has developed a strong network of partners in Ukraine, including health institutions, academic actors and units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This provides a real operational base to scale solutions quickly, evaluate outcomes and replicate successful models—fully aligned with the CoR’s territorial and multilevel governance approach.