Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation for recovery and rebuilding in Lviv
Signing of the memorandum between the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the German development Agency GIZ on Slovenia's continued support for the programme U-LEAD with Europe | Author Ukrajina
"Establishing links between towns and communities facilitates the transfer of knowledge, substantive projects and the building of bridges, including the strengthening of friendship between the two countries," emphasised Srečko Đurov, State Secretary at the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, in his address at the opening of the Forum. On the sidelines of the event, he held bilateral meetings with Ukraine's highest representatives, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Oleksandr Korniyenko, and the Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Oleksii Riabykin.
The main event of the Forum's first day was the signing of the memorandum between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia and the German development agency GIZ on Slovenia's continued support for the U-LEAD with Europe programme. The memorandum ensures formal cooperation between Slovenian and Ukrainian partners to support local reconstruction, reforms and preparations of Ukrainian municipalities for Ukraine's EU membership under the auspices of U-LEAD, with the participation of the European Commission, Germany, France, Denmark and Poland. The memorandum was signed by the Director-General of the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Edvin Skrt, and Andrej Horvat on behalf of the German development agency GIZ.
"We are closest to the people at the local level. This is where solidarity with Ukraine is most sincere," said Edvin Skrt in his address, adding that cooperation must not be taken for granted. "Our cooperation is aimed at strengthening the community, exchanging experiences and learning together – in the spirit of a European future," he explained.
The Forum highlighted Slovenia's important role in supporting reforms in Ukraine, particularly on decentralisation, good governance and local development. Since 2019, Slovenia has been a member of the U-LEAD with Europe programme, which supports Ukrainian municipalities in strengthening their administrative capacities and establishing an open, inclusive and efficient local self-government. The event facilitated numerous bilateral meetings between Slovenian and Ukrainian municipalities participating in the "Recovery and Rebuilding in Ukraine" programme, which is implemented by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) on the basis of an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs as part of projects under the Slovenian official development cooperation for the period 2025–2026.
During his visit to Lviv, Director-General Edvin Skrt also met with the Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, who expressed his gratitude for Slovenia's support for the development and humanitarian projects in the region and in the city of Lviv, and spoke in favour of strengthening development and economic cooperation. Through ITF Enhancing Human Security, Slovenia supports the humanitarian project for the medical rehabilitation Superhumans, with funds from official development assistance.