International Municipal Partnerships (IMPs) are an instrument of Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine and continue to be successfully applied. Ukrainian local communities and decentralisation reform in Ukraine have been supported by Slovenian municipalities since 2018. Until today, 15 cross-border partnerships have been established. The knowledge and experience of Slovenia in establishing a robust national framework and strengthening local capacities for sustainable development are welcome and recognised as highly applicable. In the period 2025–, the emphasis is on as many Ukrainian municipalities as possible entering international inter-municipal partnerships, also with the aim of geographically balanced development. Under the Ukraine Plan (2024), local communities in Ukraine are implementing local recovery and development plans and undertaking complex development projects. As a key driving force of the country’s recovery and development, they aim to improve social and economic conditions for their populations and ensure a prompt return to normalcy after the war ends. The Programme builds on key areas and needs of the local and regional dimensions of reconstruction, i.e. environmental policy, education, housing policy, building the future, development of the local economy and (social) entrepreneurship, rehabilitation, energy and digitalization. Ukrainian local authorities will strengthen key skills in governance, project management, strategic planning, obtaining grants, and receive knowledge and Slovenian good practices in the implementation of key EU policies.

Further reading: Slovenia Supporting Ukrainian Communities: Integrating Reconstruction with Local Development

Further reading: Slovenian Mayors Strengthen Cooperation in Supporting Ukraine’s Recovery 

The process of Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine is inextricably linked to EU integration, where Ukraine successfully opened negotiations in 2024, and screening processes are already underway. The Ukrainian government has established a negotiating architecture within the framework of pre-accession negotiations for EU membership, including an inter-ministerial working group and 36 working groups to prepare negotiating positions within the framework of the pre-accession process. The program addresses key thematic needs of Ukraine at the national level in the context of European integration by transferring relevant good practices and experiences from Slovenia.

In September 2025, Ukraine reached an important milestone in its EU accession path with the completion of the bilateral screening of its legislation with the European Commission, a process initiated in July 2024. This rapid screening covered a broad set of policy domains, including food safety, environmental standards, and other regulatory areas, and reflects Ukraine’s sustained reform efforts even under wartime conditions.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos described Ukraine’s performance as the fastest screening process in the history of EU enlargement, praising the thorough legislative alignment work and the ambition of Ukraine’s reform agenda. She noted that the next stage will place particular emphasis on strengthening the rule of law, enhancing good governance, rooting out corruption, and safeguarding fundamental rights — all core prerequisites for deeper integration into the EU framework. The Commissioner also reaffirmed the EU’s continued support and stressed the importance of momentum in advancing toward membership.

The CEP Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine Programme plays a complementary role, supporting Ukraine in preparing for negotiations under Chapter 22 (Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments), raising awareness of cohesion policy, and building institutional capacity to utilise EU funds effectively. The programme helps connect Ukraine’s recovery efforts with its accession trajectory by offering guidance, tools, pilot initiatives, and promoting sustainable development in line with European standards.

The reconstruction requires political support and strong engagement from the foreign private sector, which will enable the strengthening of trust in the local business environment and success stories (“Ukraine Plan 2024-2027”). In key sectors related to reconstruction and development—such as digitalisation, energy, green transition, construction and infrastructure, waste management, and rehabilitation—Slovenian private sector knowledge and experience can play a vital role in promoting economic growth and sustainable development in Ukraine. The “Economy” pillar is specifically designed to strengthen the role of Slovenian businesses in the country’s recovery, building on the interest demonstrated during the previous CEP project in 2024 and supported by successful pilot cases.

The programme establishes mechanisms to connect Slovenian and Ukrainian stakeholders through a platform for urban and regional recovery and development, including online tools to provide targeted information to companies. It follows a structured approach, beginning with needs assessment and stakeholder mapping to identify opportunities for Slovenian involvement. Preparatory support and digital resources will facilitate engagement, leading to the development of concrete pilot projects, such as the integrated waste management system in the Samar region. These pilot cases will be showcased to encourage broader participation of businesses and institutions from both countries. Finally, analysis and recommendations from these projects will guide the systematic inclusion of Slovenian companies in ongoing and future recovery efforts, creating a scalable model for long-term economic cooperation.

Further reading: Forum on Reconstruction and Business Revival in Ukraine

The Programme strives to respond to priority occurring needs in local development. One of the key needs is environmental protection and waste management, which is increasingly high on the list of priorities of local communities in Ukraine (Report on Ukraine 2024; Plan for Ukraine 2024–2027). Ukrainian municipalities are embarking on the preparation of concepts for projects in this area, which represent a large share of planned infrastructure projects. The Programme will support the implementation of the project “Establishment of a Sustainable Waste Management System in the District of Samar (Dnipropetrovsk oblast)” and some other pilot initiatives in local recovery and reconstruction resulting from the work within Slovenian-Ukrainian inter-municipal Partnerships.

Further reading: Mentorship visit to Idrija ends with a presentation of ambitious project plans

The Programme strives to make a targeted and well-embedded contribution to overall efforts of Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine. The Programme is, as of 2025, contributing to the pilot phase of implementation of the ‘Training and Internship Programme Support for Ukrainian Municipalities – TIPS4UA’, implemented as of 2025 by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in cooperation with U-LEAD with Europe.

By operating an Informal Coordination Platform of actors from the Republic of Slovenia working in the field of Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine, the project will contribute to the coordination process at the operational level and, in cooperation with the main donor (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia), strive to identify opportunities for streamlining or greater synergy of action.

Further reading here.