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.

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.

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.

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.