The meeting served as a platform for exchanging experiences and finding partners, as well as for devising practical solutions for cooperation with European municipalities and international organisations.
Nataliia Onyshchuk, the Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD in Ternopil Oblast, presented U-LEAD’s initiatives that help municipalities build international contacts. Inter alia, they include Bridges of Trust, cooperation with the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-Eastern Europe (NALAS) and the TIPS4UA, which introduces the EU governance practices to municipalities.
“U-LEAD with Europe has already proven that it can be an effective platform for finding partners and promoting international cooperation between municipalities. We are committed to supporting municipalities in establishing connections with EU municipalities, as international partnerships open up new opportunities for growth,” said Nataliia Onyshchuk.
During the discussion, participants shared their examples of international projects and reflected on how to transform partnerships into tangible outcomes.
Ruslan Kulyk, the Deputy Head of International Cooperation Department of Ternopil Oblast Council, emphasised the importance of active participation in international events:
“Partners for international cooperation should be sought abroad rather than in Ukraine. The most effective way is to actively participate in international events, forums, municipal networks and exchange programmes for municipalities,” added Ruslan Kulyk.
He also pointed out that heraldry is a powerful communication tool for municipalities seeking international partnerships, rather than mere symbolism. According to him, coats of arms function as a universal language of symbols, allowing international partnerships to develop between municipalities that have similar imagery.
Bohdan Kelichavyi, the Head of Kopychyntsi City Council, spoke about cooperation with municipalities in Sweden and Belgium, which has opened up new opportunities for the municipality to implement social and infrastructure projects. He shared his experience in finding partners abroad and talked about active joint initiatives.
Andrii Smahliuk, the Head of Kremenets City Council, presented the results of the partnership with Germany. As part of the NAKOPA programme, the municipality implemented a project to collect solid household waste: they modernised the facilities of the municipal enterprise and conducted an awareness-raising campaign among the public.
The event shows that international cooperation is becoming a viable resource for the development of municipalities. It opens up new opportunities, allows municipalities to learn from their partners’ practices and creates a basis for joint projects and initiatives.
“International partnership does not just mean grants or financial assistance. First and foremost, it is shared knowledge, ambitions and vision that form the basis for sustainable municipal development. U-LEAD provides the necessary skills and tools for establishing cooperation. Events where you can hear about the experiences of others, which you can then use in your own municipality, are especially valuable,” concluded Oksana Zazuliak, the Head of Economic Development, Investment and Public Procurement Department of Velyka Berezovytsia Settlement Council.
