Today, Ukrainian communities have access to substantial European funding. This includes 12 key programs, which fall into two main categories:
- 7 programs for cross-border and municipal cooperation (including the popular Interreg NEXT and URBACT initiatives).
- 5 EU-funded programs directly managed by the European Commission (ranging from the environmental LIFE program to the innovative Horizon Europe).
We analyzed how municipalities are utilizing these opportunities to identify key trends and leaders in the process. Representatives from 82 communities across 20 regions of Ukraine are already participating in EU projects. This proves that European funds are a real tool for regional development, accessible to almost every region.
However, success is unevenly distributed. Who exactly is leading the way, and why have some communities become “grant magnets” while others are merely eyeing the opportunities?
The Geography of Success: Which Regions and Communities Are Leading the Way?
An analysis of the funding secured clearly identifies the leading programs and regions. The main source of funding comes from cross-border cooperation programs, but innovative initiatives are already beginning to catch up with them in terms of funding volume.
Program Ranking: Which Programs Provide the Most Funding to Communities?
- Interreg NEXT Poland–Ukraine is the clear leader. The program provides nearly half of all funding to communities—€104 million (46 projects). The average EU co-financing rate here is substantial—86%.
- Horizon Europe — a focus on innovation. Despite a smaller number of projects (only 6), the program ranks second in terms of funding — €39.5 million, which accounts for 18% of total funding from EU funds.
- Interreg Europe — third place. €24.9 million has been allocated for 18 projects with an average co-financing rate of 75%.
Top 5 Regions by Funding Volume
From a regional perspective, successful projects are concentrated in the western regions, which actively utilize cross-border cooperation instruments:
- Lviv Region. The clear leader—€62 million in total funding secured (€52.7 million directly from the EU). Communities in the region are implementing 28 projects across a wide range of programs: from Interreg to LIFE and Creative Europe.
- Volyn Region. Second place with €34.7 million (€29.5 million from the EU) and 13 projects.
- Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Rounds out the top three with €33.6 million in funding across 24 projects.
- Zakarpattia Oblast. 21 projects with a total budget of €29.8 million.
- Rivne Oblast. €19.4 million in funding for 12 projects.
The other 15 oblasts, which also attract European funds, are implementing a total of 37 projects. Their total funding amounts to €68.2 million, with the EU’s share reaching €64 million.
The number of implemented initiatives and the scale of budgeting allow for a clear ranking of the communities that work most effectively with European resources.
Leading Communities by Number of Projects and Funding Secured
When evaluating activity based on the number of grants awarded, the top three are as follows:
- The Ivano-Frankivsk community is the clear leader (15 projects).
- The Lviv community ranks second (14 projects).
- The Rivne community ranks third (9 projects).
Communities that are not regional centers but demonstrate high institutional capacity deserve special attention. The Izmail and Dolyna communities have the most projects in their portfolios (3 projects each). The Kovel, Zalishchyky, Khust, Zlatopil, and other active communities each have 2 successful cases.
The leadership in terms of funds raised differs somewhat from the quantitative ranking:
- Lviv Territorial Community: leads with a budget of 31.3 million euros (27.5 million euros — EU funding share).
- Ivano-Frankivsk TG: has attracted €17.6 million (of which over €11.7 million is confirmed co-financing).
- Rivne TG: has a portfolio of €13 million (€11 million covered by the EU).
The Kovel community’s budget of 14.3 million euros (with 12.2 million euros in co-financing) surpasses the figures for many large cities. The Zalishchyky Territorial Community (10.5 million euros) and the Vyhodska Territorial Community (4.3 million euros) also posted strong results.
What does the EU allocate funds for in Ukrainian communities?
АAn analysis by sector shows that European donors are most willing to invest in critical infrastructure and sustainable development:
- Environment and climate: the largest financial focus—€67 million of the total budget across 24 projects.
- Healthcare: the largest number of projects (26) with a budget of €48 million.
- Water supply and sanitation: 19 projects totaling €47.9 million.
Today, Ukrainian communities are experiencing a unique historical moment. EU candidate status and the launch of the Ukraine Facility program are creating an unprecedented window of opportunity.
The experience of the communities in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kovel demonstrates that the size of a settlement or its budget is no obstacle to significant achievements. The key resource is institutional capacity and a willingness to adhere to European standards of transparency and accountability.
This material was prepared with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the joint initiative “Joining the EU Together.” The material represents the authors’ views and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the International Renaissance Foundation.
