Representatives of communities from Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zakarpattia regions, who were part of a delegation organised by the Centre for Local Self-Government Development (CLSD), attended a series of strategic meetings with Polish partners. Key events included a visit to the gminas of Powiat Policki in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, and participation in the 18th Baltic Business Forum (BBF) in Świnoujście. The events were held with the support of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (Polsko-Ukraińska Izba Gospodarcza) and the Convention for Polish-Ukrainian Local Government Cooperation (Konwent Współpracy Samorządowej Polska-Ukraina), with financial support from the Study Tours to Poland programme.

Exchange of experience in crisis management: security, critical infrastructure

 

During a meeting with representatives of the gminas and towns of Powiat Policki, Ukrainian community leaders and heads of military administrations outlined the current situation in the context of a full-scale war.

‘We discussed how to ensure the safety of residents, the initial decisions taken after 24 February, working with the public to organise resistance, food security, the protection of critical infrastructure, daily life during power cuts, and the operation of invincibility points. Our leaders demonstrated not only the pain of loss – destroyed homes, schools, shattered lives – but also incredible resilience, outlining current and future development projects. This is an inner strength that is difficult to convey through the news, but which our Polish colleagues experienced first-hand,’ noted Diana Barynova, Chair of the Board of the NGO “Centre for Local Self-Government Development” and Chair of the Committee on Cooperation between Local Self-Government and Business at the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.

Such direct dialogue gave our Polish partners a deeper understanding of the challenges that Ukrainian communities face and helped identify areas for mutually beneficial support.

 

 

Baltic Business Forum: energy, finance, and recovery tools

At the 18th Baltic Business Forum, which annually brings together presidents, ambassadors, members of the Sejm and government representatives, the Ukrainian delegation was, as is now tradition, welcomed by the long-standing president of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and former Polish Minister of the Economy, Jacek Piechota. The Ukrainian delegation was represented at the Forum by Artem Rybchenko, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.

The key panel discussion was a session dedicated to the energy sector and the financial tools for its restoration.

Importantly, the idea of providing preferential loans to Ukrainian communities first emerged during an informal meeting between the BGK team, the Chamber and the partner communities of the Local Self-Government Development Centre at the BBF two years ago. Today, this initiative is taking shape.

A particularly strong signal of support was the speech by Jerzy Karol Buzek, former Prime Minister of Poland (1997–2001), President of the European Parliament (2009–2012), and the first representative of Central and Eastern European countries to hold this position. His in-depth knowledge of local self-government, energy, and European integration, as well as his personal emotional support for Ukraine, have been a key factor in building trust.

Systematic work, not isolated actions

The organisers emphasise that such visits form part of a long-term strategy: The Committee on Cooperation between Local Self-Government and Business at the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, the NGO ‘Centre for Local Self-Government Development’ and Konwent Współpracy Samorządowej Polska-Ukraina work systematically to create opportunities for the development of communities in Ukraine.

‘Small steps lead to big changes. Although it is very difficult right now, during the war,’ concludes Diana Barynova.

The delegation spent the next two days in separate meetings with municipalities in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, continuing to exchange experiences on governance in crisis conditions.

For reference:

The main focus of the NGO ‘Centre for Local Self-Government Development’ is to build the capacity of Ukrainian communities in different areas and to promote international cooperation.
Partners: Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, Konwent Współpracy Samorządowej Polska-Ukraina, the town and gmina of Serock, and other local governments in Poland.