Opening the meeting of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz highlighted the essential role of local and regional authorities in Ukraine's recovery, resilience and European integration. Ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC2026), she stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships between Ukrainian and European municipalities, building local administrative capacity, and fostering resilient communities through cooperation between public authorities and civil society.
"These partnerships are not only symbolic. This is everyday communication and everyday cooperation. From our side, on the European Union side, it is extremely important to learn how to be resilient communities and how to be resilient cities. This is something that our Ukrainian partners can bring to our societies and to our public administration," said Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk.
During the meeting, the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine endorsed a joint statement setting out concrete recommendations for donors and international partners ahead of URC2026. The statement underlines that local and regional authorities across Ukraine are managing the daily consequences of the war while keeping essential services running, rebuilding infrastructure and advancing reforms linked to EU accession. It stresses that Ukraine's recovery cannot be built without municipalities and regions as full partners, recognising their strategic and indispensable role in reconstruction and long-term development.
Created in 2022 at the initiative of the European Committee of the Regions, the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine brings together more than 100 members, including European and Ukrainian associations of local and regional authorities, cities, regions and key institutional partners. The Alliance coordinates efforts to support Ukraine's decentralised and sustainable recovery, promotes partnerships between European and Ukrainian municipalities, and helps ensure that reconstruction contributes to Ukraine's path towards membership of the European Union.
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Aleksandra Dulkiewicz: Local Partnerships Are Key to Ukraine's Recovery and European Future
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The EPP Group is a leading force in the European Committee of the Regions: a consultative body which was created in 1994 to give locally and regionally elected representatives of government a say over the content of EU legislation.