The latest milestone in ALDA Flagship Initiative for Ukraine, the Practical Platform on the Involvement of European and Ukrainian Local Authorities in Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine adds onto the partnerships ALDA has been building in support of Ukraine.
In cooperation with the Bourgogne Franche-Comté Region and the municipality of Dijon – and in the frame of their yearly edition of the “Rencontres Régionales de l’International” – the two-days long event that took place on the 2nd and 3rd of December also hosted the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the birth of the newest Local Democracy Agency (LDA) in Vinnytsia.
The event gathered an assorted group of participants and speakers – including ALDA representatives, Ukrainian regional and local leaders, the Ukrainian Embassy in France, Expertise France, the Agence Francaise de Development, the Diputaciò de Barcelona, the Council of Europe, the European Committee of the Regions, Delegates from other LDAs and representatives from Ukraine Civic Initiatives and Association of Local Self-Governance Bodies de la Région de Vinnytsia along with the French hosting authorities. The shared commitment for the support of Ukraine brought to a fruitful discussion during the panels organised by ALDA on the first day of the event – that culminated in the signature of the MoU on the second day.
Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding for the opening of LDA Vinnytsia
The event aimed at strengthening partnerships between Ukrainian, French, and Spanish local authorities, promoting decentralised cooperation for Ukraine’s recovery and EU integration, and also facilitating discussions on local governance and project development. Enhancing cooperation between the aforementioned stakeholders and promoting decentralisation is particularly important in view of the upcoming URC 2025 – whose Local and Regional dimension will be co-coordinated by ALDA.
All speakers’ contributions added valuable input, enriching everyone’s experience and creating bridges easing future cooperation. The head of the CIVEX Commission of the Committee of the Regions – Mr. Patrick Molinoz – put the accent on decentralisation and how crucial it is as a starting point for Ukraine’s democratic reconstruction.
Mr. Bohdan Vasnevskyi – representing Ukraine’s embassy in France – discussed Ukraine’s recovery plan. Its ambitious attitude – in his view – is what’s needed to lead a sustainable reconstruction that promotes economic prosperity, social equity and environmental protection. On the other hand, the Ukrainian delegation – comprising representatives from Vinnytsia Region and Municipality of Vinnytsia, LDA Delegates and Civil Society Representatives – painted a clear picture depicting the severity of the situation in Ukraine and consequently how important support is.
Lessons from previous experience in LDAs show best practices for a governance modernisation, that starts from the installing of a multi-level decentralised cooperation. Such examples of successful partnerships contribute to the improving of the county’s resilience thanks to capacity-building and community driven activities. Indeed, as highlighted by ALDA Vice-President Mr. Maurizio Camin, it is only through local democracy and bottom-up processes that Ukraine will achieve a sustainable and long-lasting peace.
Therefore, all ALDA’s efforts head in this direction – promoting local governance, deepening EU integration and strengthening international partnerships.
The signature of the Memorandum of Understanding did not simply hold a symbolic meaning, it also underscored a path of solidarity, decentralized governance, and multi-level cooperation in supporting Ukraine’s recovery and integration with the EU. It highlighted how partnerships foster resilience, empower local actors, and advance sustainable development.
In this frame, the remarks by Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General – calling for a perpetuation of such transnational cooperation – reiterate the importance of a constant and sustained effort in the purpose of delivering humanitarian aid and psychological support, fostering green reconstruction and promoting active citizenship. All of these activities conducted by ALDA emphasise the transformative power of decentralised cooperation in the long term.
The event was organised within the framework of the “Local Democracy Agencies: Instrument for Cooperation, Community Cohesion, and Development in Ukraine“ project by ALDA with support from U-LEAD with Europe under the Bridges of Trust Initiative.
