20 September–2 October 2026, Komen Municipality – Over the past two weeks, representatives of the Pryiutivka Territorial Community took part in the TIPS4UA Internship Programme, implemented under the U-LEAD with Europe programme and the Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine programme. The internship brought together Viktoriia Lysenko, Secretary of the Village Council and Acting Deputy Head responsible for the work of the Council’s executive bodies, including international cooperation and project management, and Kateryna Batsman, Expert Consultant on International Cooperation and Project Management of the Pryiutivka Village Council.

During the internship, the participants took part in a series of practical workshops focused on project development and management, including defining project objectives, developing project plans and timelines, evaluating projects, identifying funding opportunities and preparing project proposals. With the support of CEP experts they also worked on concrete project ideas and implementation plans that could be further developed in cooperation with international partners.

An important part of the programme was learning from the good practices of the Municipality of Komen and its partners. The participants visited Hiša dobre volje Komen, a day-care centre for older people, and explored the municipality’s approach to social care and active ageing. They also visited recycling points and the Komen Collection Waste Centre, where they learned about waste separation and collection, as well as the newly established Reuse Corner. The programme continued with a visit to CERO Sežana, providing an insight into the wider regional waste management system.

The internship also focused on civil protection and community resilience. The participants visited the Sežana Fire and Rescue Service Institute (ZGRS Sežana), where they learned about its organisation, equipment, working methods and cooperation with volunteer associations and EU projects. They also visited the Komen Volunteer Fire Brigade (PGD Komen) and learned about the role of volunteering, youth involvement and cooperation between professional and volunteer emergency services.

Water management and sustainable infrastructure were another important area of exchange. The delegation visited the Komen Wastewater Treatment Plant, where wastewater management in the municipality was presented, as well as the Klariči pumping station and water supply facilities in Sela na Krasu, an important source of drinking water for the wider Karst region.

The programme also highlighted the potential of sustainable tourism and local economic development. In Štanjel, the participants learned about the Kras–Brkini tourist destination, the renovation and management of Štanjel Castle and the development of local tourism. They also visited Hotel St. Daniel in Hruševica, an example of sustainable tourism in the Karst region, and travelled to the neighbouring Municipality of Ajdovščina, with a focus on local economic development.

Beyond individual examples of good practice, the internship provided an opportunity to learn about Slovenian local self-government, regional development, the role of the European Union, and participatory approaches to local development. Particular attention was also given to cooperation and networking among the Karst municipalities in areas such as tourism, healthcare, education, waste management and water supply.

The visit concluded on 2 October at Štanjel Castle, where the participants presented the results of their internship and the project ideas developed during the programme. As an important outcome of the visit, Mayor of Pryiutivka Andrii Kolomiitsev and Mayor of Komen Erik Modic signed a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a framework for continued cooperation and experience exchange between the two municipalities.

The TIPS4UA internship thus provided not only an opportunity to share practical knowledge and Slovenian good practices, but also to strengthen the partnership between Komen and Pryiutivka and lay the foundations for future cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The Recovery and reconsatruction in Ukraine programme is supported by the Ministry of foreign and european affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through the Slovenia aid and partnerships programme.