During a study visit to Brussels, a Ukrainian delegation took part in a thematic seminar and discussed current and future opportunities for hromadas under EU programmes and instruments with representatives of EU institutions. The delegation included the heads of Teofipol hromada in Khmelnytskyi region, Zlatopil and Savyntsi hromadas in Kharkiv region, and Opishnia hromada in Poltava region, as well as representatives of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.

The meeting with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy was particularly important for hromadas' preparations to participate in EU programmes. Discussions focused on the role of local self-government in Ukraine's recovery and EU Cohesion Policy, as well as on strengthening hromadas' capacity - from strategic planning and project management to public procurement and mobilising investment. In the context of the next Interreg programming period, it is important for hromadas to start identifying project ideas, priorities and potential partners now.

“Successful participation in EU programmes and funds requires close cooperation between the local and national levels. Hromadas have the clearest understanding of their own needs and develop project ideas, while coherent national approaches help integrate these ideas into broader development and European integration processes. Polaris supports this dialogue and helps hromadas make more effective use of European opportunities,” stated Susanna Dellans, Team Leader of the Polaris Programme and SALAR International Representative in Ukraine.

At the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, the delegation learned about IPARD - a pre-accession assistance instrument for candidate countries - and the LEADER approach, which promotes local development through Local Action Groups. Participants discussed the prerequisites for introducing IPARD in Ukraine, including the establishment of a Managing Authority and a Paying Agency. Ministry representatives expressed interest in supporting the piloting of Local Action Groups as a first step towards applying LEADER in Ukraine. In the longer term, this could enable hromadas to access funding under the programme.

“These meetings marked an important step in preparing to implement the provisions of Chapter 22, ‘Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments’. They not only deepened our understanding of the opportunities that European Union programmes and instruments offer hromadas, but also enabled us to align approaches with European partners on their future use. For the Ministry, it was particularly important to identify shared priorities and outline specific areas for further cooperation. This provides a solid foundation for systematically preparing hromadas to make effective use of EU Cohesion Policy resources once Ukraine joins the European Union,” said Vitaliy Protsenko, Director of the Department for Regional Policy and Reintegration of Territories at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.

Opportunities for hromadas to participate in European programmes - ranging from climate, infrastructure and mobility to education, culture and civic participation - were discussed during meetings with the relevant EU executive agencies and representatives of the European Commission's directorates-general. Discussions covered Horizon Europe, LIFE, the Connecting Europe Facility, the New European Bauhaus, the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission and the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan concept, as well as Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values. Particular attention was paid to how hromadas can participate in joint projects in partnership with educational institutions, cultural organisations and civil society organisations.

Organisational support for the meetings was provided by Cities4Cities experts, who implement the International Municipal Cooperation track of the Polaris Programme.