Dear Deputy Prime Minister Kuleba 

Dear Minister Calderoli

Dear President Tüttő 

Dear leaders and representatives of regional and local communities,

It is an honor to be here for this annual Ukraine Recovery Conference - in my home country.

I am particularly pleased to discuss the Regional and Local Dimension.

I would like to start by expressing my full support for Ukraine, its regions, communities, and the Ukrainian people.

Ukrainian communities have inspired Europe - and indeed the world. In the face of unprovoked aggression, you continue to deliver essential services.

You continue to demonstrate the resourcefulness and resilience of democracy and our European way of life.

Your resilience is crucial for today’s resistance and tomorrow’s reconstruction.

Since I began my role as Executive Vice-President, I have traveled extensively to European regions, spoken with local communities, and met with national ministers responsible for cohesion and reforms. I am proud to have also visited Ukraine.

It is essential to listen, engage in dialogue, and see challenges and opportunities firsthand.

I am encouraged by Ukraines rapid reforms, including a close partnership with local and regional authorities as well as civil society.

Local and regional authorities are key players in our European project and in cohesion policy.

I encourage you to continue on the path of decentralization reforms and to build the capacity of local authorities.

In this spirit, we continue to work intensively with our Ukrainian partners on EU accession.

The accession path is a historic opportunity - for all of us.

Seventy percent [70%] of EU legislation is implemented at the local and regional level. This means that enlargement will only succeed with active, engaged, and empowered local and regional actors.

Every candidate country must fully involve sub-national authorities in its accession track.

You will not walk this path alone.

Because we in the European Union have not wavered - and will not waver - in our support for Ukraine.

This support extends to every municipality.

This is why the Ukraine Facility supports local authorities in each of its three pillars.

This is why Ukraine is fully integrated into seven different Interreg cooperation programs, with a total of 1.2 billion euros supporting economic, social, and territorial cohesion and integration.

This is why we are here today, discussing local communities and their role in recovery and development.

By directly channeling aid to municipalities and local governments, we empower them to manage and implement reconstruction projects.

This will be crucial in the coming years.

I am proud to report concrete results from Interreg cooperation programs:

The Poland-Ukraine cross-border program is already investing 30 million euros in environmental protection, health, and water management.

By the end of 2025, we expect to sign off on additional projects worth 53 million euros for road and rail infrastructure reconstruction and modernization.

We are investing in the capacity of Ukrainian cities and municipalities to deliver projects. The URBACT IV program for the exchange of good practices was opened for the first time to Ukraine this year.

We also plan to launch a dedicated capacity-building initiative for Ukrainian cities, with the launch planned for the end of this year.

We are also investing 2 million euros in cooperation between the border regions of Ukraine and Moldova. This will enable local and regional authorities and civil society to implement joint projects.

Our support goes far beyond cross-border cooperation.

Through the mid-term review of cohesion policy, we also propose to direct more resources toward the EU regions bordering Ukraine.

We are providing assistance to sectors such as defense, dual-use technologies, and resilient infrastructure.

Furthermore, two weeks ago, I announced a new Pact for the EUs Eastern Border Regions.

This Pact, which I aim to finalize by the end of this year, will serve as a roadmap. It will address the specific challenges of Eastern border regions, providing a clear vision for their support and solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Thus, cohesion policy is doing, and will continue to do, its part to support Ukraine.

And we are prepared to continue this support. As long as it takes - and whatever it takes.

To bring Ukraine - and its cities and municipalities - back where they belong: at the heart of our European family.

I look forward to our discussion.