Upcoming second mentorship visit in Hrastnik

Upcoming second mentorship visit in Hrastnik

30 June  10 July 2025, Hrastnik – We are finalising the activities to kick off the first two-week internship visit under the auspices of our programme Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine’ and TIPS4UA initiative, which will take place in the municipality of Hrastnik. Joining the mentorship are representatives from Drohobych (Ukraine). Mentors from Hrastnik will share their experience and good practice on housing policy, rehabilitation and working with youth. The visit will conclude on 10 July 2025 in Hrastnik.

 

The ‘Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine’ programme is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. 

Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation in Lviv concludes

Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation in Lviv concludes

Lviv, 28–30 May 2025 — The Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation, held in Lviv and organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), brought together mayors, public officials, development experts, and institutional representatives from both countries to deepen practical cooperation between municipalities and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and European integration.

Over the three days, participants engaged in high-level dialogue and thematic sessions focusing on sustainable housing, waste management, EU Cohesion Policy, and the role of municipalities in post-war reconstruction. The Forum highlighted the importance of long-term, structured cooperation between local governments in addressing complex recovery needs and preparing for EU accession.

The Forum opened with remarks from the Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, and Her Excellency Mateja Prevolšek, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Ukraine. Joining the Forum was First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Oleksandr Korniienko, who delivered a keynote address, underscoring the complexity of Ukraine’s recovery following Russian military aggression. He expressed deep gratitude to Slovenia for its comprehensive support—political, military, and humanitarian—as well as its firm advocacy for Ukraine’s EU aspirations. He extended special thanks to European Commissioner Marta Kos for her continued support of Ukraine’s integration path. He outlined four key principles of recovery: human-centeredness, decentralisation, transparency, and innovation, highlighting the need to base recovery efforts on the priorities of local communities and to strengthen local self-government as the most responsive governance level.

The first thematic session of the Forum addressed priority needs and objectives in the local and regional dimensions of recovery, with contributions from national ministries, international organisations, and municipal representatives, where Mr Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, noted that recovery must go beyond rebuilding—it must enable sustainable development and regional balance. He stressed the multifaceted nature of recovery and invited Slovenian partners to explore cooperation opportunities across more Ukrainian regions.

The Forum also hosted a signing ceremony between the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and German Development Cooperation (GIZ), formalising cooperation in support of Ukraine’s local development efforts.

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At the core of the Forum were the International Municipal Partnerships (IMPs) facilitated by CEP, which connect Slovenian and Ukrainian municipalities to share experience, strengthen local institutions, and jointly implement projects, with several successful partnerships were presented, including Hrastnik–Drohobych in the area of housing policy, Idrija–Pereschepyne in the development of sustainable waste management, and Kočevje – Bucha in the field of business support and development. 

Mayors from both countries emphasised how peer-level cooperation facilitates knowledge transfer, promotes local ownership, and facilitates policy reform from the bottom up.

Slovenian and Ukrainian mayors later jointly laid a wreath at Lychakiv Cemetery to commemorate fallen Ukrainian soldiers and Slovenian soldiers of World War I, underlining the shared commitment to remembrance and peacebuilding.

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With over 13% of housing stock damaged or destroyed and more than 4.6 million people internally displaced, housing remains one of Ukraine’s most urgent challenges. The Forum hosted a dedicated session on sustainable housing on 30 May, involving representatives from the Lviv Regional Military Administration, the Municipality of Hrastnik, and CEDOS, a Ukrainian policy think tank.

The event also marked the launch of a new waste management initiative in the Samar District of Dnipropetrovsk Region. Building on the success of the 2024 mentorship visit between Idrija and Pereschepyne, the pilot project aims to provide regional solutions aligned with national and local waste strategies. Slovenian technical experience and Ukraine’s local implementation capacities are central to this initiative, supported by U-LEAD with Europe.

Several sessions focused on Ukraine’s progress toward EU accession, with particular attention to Chapter 22 (Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments). Representatives of the Slovenian Ministry for Cohesion and Regional Development, the European Parliament, and the Ukrainian Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories addressed the institutional, financial, and administrative challenges associated with the accession process.

Key messages included the importance of:

  • Strengthening institutional absorption capacity;

  • Coordinating funding sources at the national and local levels;

  • Promoting regional balance and inclusive governance.

Dr. Ivan Žagar, Mayor of Slovenska Bistrica and former Slovenian Minister for Local Self-Government, emphasised the role of multi-level governance in successful EU policy implementation. MEP Dr Vladimir Prebilič reiterated the need for strategic planning and administrative capacity at the municipal level to effectively access and manage EU funds.

The Forum concluded with a guest lecture by MEP Prebilič at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, focused on the role of local government in democratic resilience and EU integration. The event underlined the importance of building partnerships not only among institutions but also between generations and across professional communities.

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Throughout the Forum, Ukrainian municipal leaders shared their experiences in crisis response, emergency planning, and service continuity under war conditions. These insights were highly valued by Slovenian partners and contributed to a mutual learning process. The Forum demonstrated that international municipal partnerships are a vital tool in Ukraine’s recovery, enabling practical collaboration and fostering mutual accountability. Through the Slovenia Connects – Rebuild Ukraine programme, CEP will continue to support municipalities in jointly addressing key challenges, from infrastructure to governance and EU alignment.

CEP extends its gratitude to all participating municipalities, ministries, and international partners, including U-LEAD with Europe, for their commitment to this shared effort.

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Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation begins in Lviv

Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation begins in Lviv

Lviv, Ukraine, 28 May 2025 Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation officially opened today in Lviv, bringing together over 80 participants from Ukraine, Slovenia, and wider for three days of dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cooperation. Organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), with the support of U-LEAD with Europe programme and City of Lviv, the Forum is a cornerstone of the CEP Programme “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine”, supporting local resilience through international municipal partnerships.

With Ukraine’s recovery and EU path deeply interconnected, the Forum serves as a platform for transforming solidarity into action, across topics such as housing, waste management, decentralised governance, and European integration.

The Forum began with addresses by Lviv’s Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, Deputy Minister Oleksii Riabykin, and Slovenia’s State Secretary Srečko Đurov. Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, delivered a keynote address underlining the central role of Ukrainian municipalities in recovery efforts.

During the opening part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the German GIZ, confirming a strong framework for cooperation and support in Ukraine through CEP’s “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine” programme. At the heart of the Forum are the International Municipal Partnerships, an initiative that connects municipalities like Kočevje, Hrastnik, Pereschepyne, and Drohobych to share policy expertise and implement locally led reforms.

In a dedicated panel, Slovenian and Ukrainian mayors exchanged experiences in tackling pressing local needs from housing strategies to rebuilding infrastructure and restoring citizen trust in public services.

Another key side event launched the pilot project “Establishing a Sustainable Waste Management System in Samar Raion” in Pereschepyne. The session with mayors of the Samar Raion explored both the local challenges (such as landfill overuse, lack of funding and war-induced waste) and lessons learned from Slovenia’s transformation into an EU waste management powerhouse.

The Forum also highlights Slovenia’s strategic role in supporting Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, through a side panel titled “Ukraine’s Path Toward the EU”. Participants from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Slovenian Ministry for Cohesion, and the European Parliament shared insights on how Ukraine can build the institutional capacity to navigate complex EU processes.

On 30 May, the Forum will host a dedicated panel on housing policy with officials and experts from Lviv, CEDOS, Drohobych, and Hrastnik. The discussion will highlight how municipalities are addressing the housing crisis, including for internally displaced persons.

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Second workshop for strengthening Nursing and Midwifery in North Macedonia

Second workshop for strengthening Nursing and Midwifery in North Macedonia

From 27–28 May 2025, the second set of workshops under the project “Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education and Establishing the System for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Republic of North Macedonia” took place at the NLB Gallery in Skopje.

The workshops were opened by H.E. Mr Gregor Presker, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to North Macedonia, who expressed Slovenia’s strong commitment to supporting the country’s health system reform efforts. His remarks were followed by Dr Pia Vračko, Health Policy Advisor at the WHO Country Office in North Macedonia, who emphasised the importance of international collaboration in strengthening health professions.

Over two days, the workshops gathered 35 participants from medical and healthcare faculties, healthcare professionals, and representatives from the Ministries of Health and Education to discuss essential reforms in nursing and midwifery education. The programme focused on:

  • Reviewing the proposed national curriculum for nursing and midwifery;

  • Planning faculty-level implementation of curriculum reforms;

  • Enhancing the role of nurses in family medicine and integrated primary care.

A dedicated training session on day two targeted family doctors and head nurses, highlighting best practices in the Slovenian primary care system, skill-mix innovation, and patient-centred care.

On 28 May, a meeting was also held with the Minister of Education, Dr Janevska, to present recommendations for transforming undergraduate nursing and midwifery education.

We thank the Ministries of Health and Education of North Macedonia, our Slovenian experts, the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia, the Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care, the WHO Office in North Macedonia, and the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje for their continued support. We are also grateful to NLB Banka Skopje for hosting the workshops.

Forum of Slovenian–Ukrainian Cooperation in Lviv

Forum of Slovenian–Ukrainian Cooperation in Lviv

Ljubljana, 20 May 2025 – From 28 to 30 May 2025, the Centre for European Perspective and the City of Lviv are hosting the ‘Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation: Strengthening Partnerships for Recovery and Reconstruction’, organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in cooperation with U-LEAD with Europe, implemented by GIZ, and supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia. The event is part of the broader programme “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine”, the cornerstone of Slovenia’s development cooperation with Ukraine in 2025–2026.

The Forum will bring together Slovenian and Ukrainian municipalities, government representatives from Slovenia and Ukraine, EU officials, mayors of Slovenian and Ukrainian municipalities, representatives of Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regional administrations, to exchange good practices in local and regional recovery and reconstruction, explore future cooperation, and discuss Slovenia’s targeted support for Ukraine’s EU accession process. Special focus will be placed on the role of international municipal partnerships (IMPs) in Ukraine’s post-war recovery, reconstruction and development. Thematic panels will take place, focusing on several key topics, such as waste management and housing policy.

The CEP Programme ‘Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine’ builds on mutual solidarity between the Slovenian and Ukrainian communities, aiming to foster long-term partnerships for the rebuilding of Ukraine. The Forum in Lviv will reaffirm Slovenia’s role as a committed partner in Ukraine’s recovery and European future.