At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC2025) in Rome, a major milestone was achieved for international municipal cooperation: the launch of the European Partnership Hub. Designed to strengthen ties between Ukrainian and European local authorities, the Hub is a concrete response to the Berlin Call to Action, offering long-term, structured support for Ukraine’s resilience, reconstruction, and EU integration.
What is the Berlin Call to Action?
The Berlin Call to Action was issued at URC2024 in Berlin and set out a clear objective: to establish international partnerships for every Ukrainian municipality as a strategic pillar of the country’s recovery. Recognising the essential role of local authorities in driving reconstruction, the Call urged European governments and municipalities to support Ukrainian counterparts through peer exchange, capacity building, and concrete cooperation.It highlighted that Ukraine’s future lies not only in top-down reform, but also in strong, empowered local communities, capable of managing services, rebuilding infrastructure, and restoring public trust. The Berlin Call laid the foundation for practical solutions like the European Partnership Hub, which was formally launched one year later in Rome.
The European Partnership Hub
The European Partnership Hub builds on the momentum of the Berlin Call by acting as a matchmaking and support platform for local partnerships. Led by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and supported by U-LEAD with Europe, the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC), and a broad coalition of partners, the Hub is backed by all U-LEAD donors: the European Union, Germany, Denmark, France, Poland, and Slovenia.
The Hub provides:
- A Projects Fund to support local initiatives and documentation for reconstruction investment
- Partnership matchmaking between Ukrainian and EU municipalities
- Mentoring, training, and project development guidance
- Networking and knowledge exchange, including coordination with Ukrainian municipal associations
Collectively, we are supporting Ukraine in its fight against the russian aggression and helping communities to survive and to develop.
ALDA’ engagement
As a long-time advocate for local democracy and decentralised cooperation, ALDA is proud to be part of the European Partnership Hub. With a network of over 300 members and a presence in Ukraine through multiple Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs), ALDA brings a wealth of experience and a wide network in building partnerships, promoting civic engagement, and supporting inclusive governance.
By joining the Hub, ALDA reinforces its commitment to:
- Connecting Ukrainian and European municipalities
- Supporting local actors with tools, resources, and EU know-how
- Co-developing recovery projects rooted in community needs and citizen participation
For ALDA, creating partnerships is not just about formal agreements—it’s about igniting energy within communities and helping them with concrete support These partnerships move people, mobilise resources, and generate momentum towards a shared vision: a democratic, resilient and strong Ukraine in a common European futureEurope The partnerships become catalysts for action, where solidarity translates into tangible projects and long-term local development. Below are two recent examples that illustrate how ALDA’s commitment takes shape in Ukraine’s cities and communities and that are aiming to be further enriched in the Partnership Hub.
Below are a few examples showing the positive impact of partnerships on local communities:
Tips4UA: supporting youth and social and economic development
Being part of the Committee of the Regions and U Lead for Europe initiative, Tips4UA initiative is a concrete example of how ALDA supports local recovery efforts on the ground in Ukraine through its network of Local Democracy Agencies. Implemented in close cooperation with LDA Vinnytsia, the project aimed to foster peer learning, institutional dialogue, and long-term cooperation—empowering local actors in Ukraine to build democratic resilience and advance European integration.
Among the outputs of this initiative, in June 2025 a new partnership was established between the Municipalities of Khmilnyk (Ukraine) and Mollet del Vallès (Spain). Indeed, thanks to the TIPS4UA internship programme, led by the European Committee of the Regions, in cooperation with ULEAD with Europe and the Diputació de Barcelona, the Mayor of Khmilnyk, Mykola Yurchyshyn signed a Letter of Intent to foster international cooperation and joint municipal projects. In this framework, the Khmilnyk delegation met with 17 Catalan municipalities, exchanging practices on urban regeneration, youth engagement, climate-neutral solutions, public health, cultural heritage & mental wellbeing.
Thus, through a combination of local training, peer-to-peer exchanges, and strategic guidance, ALDA facilitated the transfer of knowledge and best practices between European and Ukrainian local authorities. The project involves partners and stakeholders from across Europe, i.e. Spain and Malta, enabling the Ukrainian counterparts to explore innovative approaches to economic revitalisation, while building long-term partnerships with their European peers.
By taking part into this initiative and leveraging its broad network, ALDA played a key role in connecting local actors, fostering decentralised cooperation, and promoting community-based recovery strategies—showcasing how the European Partnership Hub translates into meaningful, localised impact.
New engagement of Italian local and regional authorities in Ukraine
ALDA’s long-standing expertise in decentralised cooperation and its active presence in Ukraine have once again proven useful in forging meaningful international partnerships. By supporting the local and regional dimension of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, ALDA in July 2025, had the chance to support ANCI – the National Association of Italian Municipalities in engaging Italian cities as well as the Conference of the Italian Regions.
One of them was signed between the City of Bari, member of ALDA and 4 Ukrainian cities-For one of them, the Mayor of Bari, Vito Leccese signed with Oleksandr Senkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv. This partnership reinforces the vital role of local authorities in Ukraine’s recovery and European trajectory, offering a concrete framework for collaboration in areas such as democratic governance, resilience, and citizen participation. The signing was attended by Davide La Cecilia, Special Envoy of the Italian Government for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, underlining Italy’s political and institutional backing for Ukraine’s future.
Another powerful example of local solidarity came from the City of Turin, which announced its ongoing cooperation with the City of Kharkiv. Presented during a high-level panel co-organised by ALDA during the URC 20205, Mayor Stefano Lo Russo shared the city’s concrete contribution to the recovery of public services, including a partnership with GTT – Gruppo Torinese Trasporti S.p.A., to support the restoration of local transport infrastructure. This collaboration illustrates how cities can respond quickly and meaningfully to specific community needs on the ground, offering not just symbolic gestures, but operational support rooted in proximity and mutual trust.
Finally, the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Odesa Regional Military Administration signed an official cooperation agreement focused on culture, civil protection, and capacity building—key areas for strengthening resilience and reinforcing democratic institutions. The agreement, signed by Governor Massimiliano Fedriga and Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Administration, was another milestone in decentralised cooperation, proudly facilitated by ALDA as part of its mission to empower local authorities and connect communities across borders.
These partnerships show how they become concrete acts and driving force behind concrete solutions, empowering communities, enabling collaboration, and anchoring recovery efforts in democratic resilience and local ownership. They are clear examples of how ALDA and the European Partnership Hub become operational—transforming political solidarity into practical local action.
