Cities at the Heart of Ukraine’s Recovery: European Alliance Calls for Stronger Local Role

As the countdown begins to the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome this July, a powerful message is echoing across Europe: Ukraine’s reconstruction must be driven not just by national strategies and international aid, but by its cities, towns, and regions — the communities that have endured, adapted, and led on the ground since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

On May 15, the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine issued a joint statement with a clear call to action: empower local and regional authorities (LRAs) in Ukraine’s recovery, and build deep, long-term partnerships with European counterparts. Presented to Ukrainian and Italian government officials at a high-level political meeting, the statement is both a roadmap and a rallying cry.

Four Key Proposals from the Alliance

1. Create a “One-Stop Shop” for Municipal PartnershipsTo reach the URC’s goal of establishing 1,000 new partnerships between Ukrainian and EU municipalities, the Alliance is calling for a centralized coordination mechanism — a one-stop shop to help match local needs with international expertise and resources.

2. Formally Involve Cities and Regions in Strategic Decision-MakingThe Alliance wants local authorities to be formally included in the Ukraine Donor Platform, where major recovery decisions are made. Local governments, the Alliance argues, are not just implementers — they’re experts in local infrastructure, public services, and community resilience.

3. Launch an Ongoing Dialogue Between All Levels of GovernmentRecovery must be bottom-up. A permanent platform for dialogue involving local and regional authorities, civil society, and national and donor governments is essential, both for effective reconstruction and for preparing Ukraine for EU accession.

4. Invest in People and Local CapacityStopping the brain drain and training a new generation of public servants are essential. The Alliance promotes initiatives like TIPS4Ukraine, a new pilot programme launched in March 2025, which offers training and internships for Ukrainian municipalities.

“Communities Are the Starting Point of Recovery”

“Cities and local communities are at the frontline of damage,” said Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions. “But recovery is not only about rebuilding what’s destroyed. It’s also about empowering communities to lead reforms, support their citizens, and move Ukraine closer to the EU.”

This sentiment was echoed by Oleksii Riabykin, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Rebuilding: “It is at the local level that decisions are made that change people’s lives every day.”

New Partnerships and Momentum

On the same day as the statement’s release, the Committee of the Regions hosted a Networking and Match-Making Forum on Strengthening Municipal Partnerships, attended by nearly 30 Ukrainian municipalities and several European partners. One tangible result: a new partnership agreement between Kassel (Germany) and Zhytomyr (Ukraine) — a model of the kind of cooperation the Alliance hopes to replicate across the continent.

A Strategic and Moral Imperative

“This statement is not just a document,” said Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils. “It is a political, moral, and strategic platform. We have a unique chance not just to participate in reconstruction, but to become its driving force.”

Looking Ahead to Rome

The Rome URC will focus on four pillars: business, human capital, regional and local recovery, and EU integration — the same pillars established at the 2024 Berlin conference. With strong voices from Europe’s cities and regions now shaping the agenda, the groundwork is being laid for a truly inclusive and sustainable reconstruction.

As Marc Cools of the Council of Europe put it: “Local and regional authorities are not mere beneficiaries of aid; they are agents of change.”

Want to learn more?Visit the European Committee of the Regions’ website to watch replays from the May 15 events, access the full joint statement, and explore opportunities to support Ukraine’s recovery from the ground up.