Brussels, 13 October 2025 — At the Representation of the Region of Rhineland-Palatinate, a signature ceremony marked a new milestone in European cooperation: the official accession of the Region of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) as a partner of the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Vinnytsia Region (ЛДА Вінниччина).
The event brought together Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy, Patrick Molinoz, Vice-President of Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, and representatives of Diputació de Barcelona — reflecting the strong spirit of interregional cooperation and European solidarity that lies at the heart of ALDA’s mission.
This partnership reaffirms the shared commitment of European regions to stand with Ukraine – promoting local democracy, reconstruction, and resilience through ALDA’s network of Local Democracy Agencies
“By joining the LDA Vinnytsia partnership, Rhineland-Palatinate expands our collective capacity to promote local democracy, develop common projects, and bring European regions and Ukrainian communities closer than ever“
— Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA
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According to the official communication of the Government of Rhineland-Palatinate, the accession was signed “within the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities” – a meaningful setting symbolising unity in times of crisis.
Minister-President Alexander Schweitzer highlighted the partnership as “an important step in deepening European cooperation and a clear sign of solidarity with Ukraine.”
State Secretary Heike Raab further noted: “We will gradually expand our partnership and bring it to life — for the benefit of people in both regions.”
In the coming months, cooperation will focus on joint projects in education, digitalisation, and climate protection, reinforcing Rhineland-Palatinate’s dedication to peace, exchange, and mutual support across Europe.
The ceremony gathered partners and friends from France, Spain, Germany, and Ukraine — a true symbol of unity and trust, demonstrating that cooperation works: delivering tangible results, empowering local authorities, and upholding European values of democracy, participation, and solidarity.
ALDA warmly welcomes the Region of Rhineland-Palatinate to the LDA Vinnytsia Region partnership and looks forward to future initiatives advancing local democracy and European integration in Ukraine.
A heartfelt thanks goes to Heike Raab, Karsten Lucke, Hanno Pfeil, and the team of the Representation of Rhineland-Palatinate in Brussels for their leadership and support — as well as to all partners actively involved, including:
- Vinnytsia Regional Development Agency
- Vinnytsia City Council and Vinnytsia Regional Council
- Dijon Métropole
- Civil Initiatives of Ukraine
- Vinnytsia Regional Association of Local Self-Government Bodies
- Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration
