On May 21, a large-scale forum titled “Volyn Communities on the Path to the EU” was held in Lutsk, bringing together over 80 participants—heads and representatives of Volyn communities, international experts, representatives of local government, the civil society sector, the education sector, and partner organizations.
The forum became one of the largest regional discussions on the role of communities in Ukraine’s European integration process. Participants discussed not only international cooperation and grant opportunities but also why communities are now becoming a key point for implementing European standards in people’s daily lives.
Throughout the day at the “Batkivshchyna” business space in Lutsk, representatives of local government, international experts, and partners discussed how communities can already begin implementing European practices at the local level, building international partnerships, and preparing for Ukraine’s future EU membership.
The forum was opened by Kateryna Shklyoda, Secretary of the Lutsk City Council; Krzysztof Wasilewski, Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Lutsk; and Iryna Pykalyuk, Executive Director of the NGO “Prybuzhzhya Regional Development Agency.”
One of the central themes of the forum was the idea that European integration is not merely a matter for the Verkhovna Rada or the Cabinet of Ministers, but involves concrete changes within communities: from the quality of services and transparency of decision-making to civic participation, international partnerships, and digitalization.
Iryna Pykalyuk, Executive Director of the NGO “Pribuzhzhya Regional Development Agency,” gave an overview of the implementation stages of the project “Volyn Communities on the Path to the EU” and discussed the initiative’s training component.
Special attention was paid during the forum to the need to establish the position of an EU integration officer in communities. The discussion centered on the fact that communities need a person who will systematically coordinate the direction of European integration: working with international partners, seeking grant opportunities, helping to adapt local documents to EU standards, and serving as a driver for the implementation of European changes in the community.
Also during the forum, expert and moderator Mariana Kononchuk, Executive Director of the Volyn Regional Branch of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, presented the “Methodological Recommendations for Harmonizing the Charters and Development Strategies of Local Communities with the EU Acquis: European Integration at the Local Level.” This is a practical document that will help communities gain new knowledge and take concrete steps to implement European standards today.
A key part of the forum was the panel discussion titled “Tools for Engaging with Residents as a Foundation of Trust in International Cooperation,” moderated by Iryna Haiduchyk, Executive Director of the Volyn Law Institute. The discussion focused on the idea that a strong European community is one where residents have real tools for participation, and where authorities operate transparently and engage in dialogue with the people. It is precisely these approaches that build trust and are an important part of the European integration of communities.
During the panel discussions, participants also discussed international community partnerships, the EU’s cohesion policy, government transparency, participatory budgeting, accessibility, youth initiatives, and social entrepreneurship as tools for community development.
Kateryna Shklyoda, Krzysztof Wasilewski, Olena Begal, Olga Hvozdik, Yulia Shaipova, Kateryna Pidgurets, Vitaliy Kyrychuk, Mariana Kononchuk, Oleksandr Lazuka, Nataliia Gusarevych, Olesia Koval, Iryna Shelep, Tetiana Korneiko, Orest Sorokopud, Anna Osmolovska, Iryna Haiduchyk, Oleg Kukh, Vyacheslav Polishchuk, Zhanna Yakovynich, Tetiana Yanyuk, and Iryna Zinchuk.
The forum served not only as a space for discussion but also as a platform for exchanging practical experience, seeking new partnerships, and shaping a shared vision of what a community in a European Ukraine should look like.
The event was organized by the NGO “Pribuzhzhya Regional Development Agency” in partnership with the Volyn Regional Branch of the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the NGO “Volyn Law Institute,” with support from the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the “Joining the EU Together” initiative.
Source: BUG
