How can Ukrainian communities cooperate effectively with European partners, use programme opportunities EU, involve residents in decision-making and implement modern digital and inclusive approaches? These and other questions were at the centre of a three-day training programme that took place 8-10 September in Uzhhorod.
The programme “Regional policy, territorial cooperation and institutional capacity of Ukrainian communities in the context of European integration” brought together representatives of local authorities, scholars and experts from Ukraine and Visegrád Four countries. Thanks to the hybrid format, representatives of communities from other regions of Ukraine also joined the training.
During the three days participants took part in 10 thematic sessions covering regional policy, cross-border and territorial cooperation, decentralisation, project management, digitalisation, human rights, social inclusion, participatory governance, culture, tourism and community resilience.
European integration starts at the community level
Opening the training programme, the participants were addressed by Deputy Head of the Zakarpattia Regional Council Vasyl Demianchuk, Secretary General of the Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives Dulo Ockai, Vice-Rector UzhNU of scientific and pedagogical work Myroslava Lendiel, acting Dean of the Law Faculty UzhNU, Doctor of Law, Professor Yaroslav Lazur and head of the Representation in Zakarpatska oblast the cross-border cooperation project HUSKROUA Olesia Tragnjuk.
The three-day programme was moderated by the board chairCarpathian Agency of Human Rights "Vested", Doctor of Law, Professor Maria Mendzhul.
One of the key topics of the first day was cross-border cooperation. For Zakarpattia, which directly borders EU member states, this instrument has particular practical significance. It concerns not only international contacts but also the possibility of jointly developing territories, implementing projects and attracting European resources.
Dulo Ockai presented the conceptual, legal and institutional foundations of regional policy and territorial cooperation in the context of European integration. The theoretical part was complemented by a practicum on cross-border planning.
A separate session was devoted to the practical possibilities of EU programmes EU, preparation of project proposals and management of the project cycle within Interreg and other European instruments. It was led by project manager of the Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives Monika Shimonova.
Participants not only received information from experts but also worked with practical cases, asked questions and discussed how European experience can be applied in their communities.
A capable community is not only about resources
The second day of training was dedicated to issues that directly affect the quality of local governance: decentralisation, digital transformation, human rights, non-discrimination and resident participation in decision-making.
Correspondent member of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Law, Professor Anastasia Mernik examined decentralisation and the development of local self-government in Ukraine in the context of institutional convergence with the European Union.
Associate Professor of the Department of Administrative, Financial and Information Law UzhNU Vadym Pishtha.
A separate block dealt with human rights and inclusion. Maria Mendzhul presented issues of protecting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, preventing discrimination and ensuring social inclusion in the context of European integration.
An important component of modern community development is also involving residents in decision-making. Director of the Research Institute of Fundamental and Applied Studies of European Territorial Cooperation UzhNU, Associate Professor of the Department of International Law Yulia Fetko.
The discussion centred on the thesis that a community’s capacity is defined not only by financial resources or the presence of necessary institutions. Equally important are residents’ ability to take part in community life, access to modern governance tools, respect for human rights and the ability of local authorities to hear different social groups.
Visegrád Four countries’ experience for Ukrainian communities
The final day allowed a broader view of territorial cooperation - through culture, tourism, heritage of border regions, social resilience and inclusive governance.
Director of the Institute for Research on Territorial and Inter-Organisational Cooperation of the Higher School of Business in Poland Joanna Kurovska-Pish presented approaches to inclusive management of border heritage.
Experience from Slovakia and European approaches to territorial cooperation was shared by Associate Professor of the Institute of Political Science, Faculty of Philosophy, Prysja University, Martin Lachny. He focused on forms of territorial cooperation at national and European levels.
Associate Professor of the Department of Geography, Technical University in Lviv Arthur Bohach spoke about the potential of culture and tourism and their role in strengthening community social resilience.
The concluding session was devoted to human rights, inclusive multi-level governance and territorial cohesion in the process of Ukraine’s European integration. It was conducted by Yaroslav Lazur and Maria Mendzhul.
From training to new partnerships
The three-day programme demonstrated how broad the concept of European integration is at the local level. For communities this is not only compliance with legislative requirements or participation in international programmes. It also includes new management standards, partnership between territories, citizen engagement, respect for human rights, digitalisation and the ability to jointly respond to modern challenges.
An important outcome of the training was the direct exchange of experience between Ukrainian communities and experts from Visegrad Group countries. Practical tasks, discussions and joint work created space for finding new ideas and potential partnerships.
Such dialogue is of particular importance for Ukraine's border regions. Here territorial cooperation can already be a practical tool of European integration - through joint projects, experience exchange, development of institutional capacity and the establishment of long-term partnership ties.
The training programme took place within the project “Sustainable local and regional authorities in Ukraine and Visegrad Group countries through cooperation”, implemented with the support of the International Visegrad Fund.
The project is implemented byCarpathian Agency of Human Rights "Vested" in partnership with the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, the Faculty of Law Uzhhorod of the National University, the Research Institute of Fundamental and Applied Studies of European Territorial Cooperation UzhNU, the Central European Service for Cross-border Initiatives (Hungary), the Prešov University (Slovakia), the Technical University of Liberec (Czech Republic) and the Business School in Dąbrowa Górnicza (Poland).