Where can we not afford to make mistakes?
According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, the transfer of negotiating positions across all clusters to Ukraine—despite political difficulties—opens a unique “window of opportunity,” and this is a chance that must not be missed.
“The ‘Fundamentals’ cluster—covering the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and the fight against corruption—are the things that will be fundamental to everything we do. This applies to regional development, the environment, the economy as a whole, transportation, and energy. All of this must have a foundation around which we may adjust certain details,” the politician noted.
She highlighted the area where Ukraine has already made the most progress: common foreign and security policy. In this sphere, a high level of alignment with the EU has been achieved. However, other areas require significantly more effort. This does not mean the country is just at the beginning of the road—much has already been done. But there is still a long way to go before the reforms are complete.
The MP also urged against excessive optimism in public statements—promises of full EU membership in the short term seem unrealistic.
“I would like us to have a very honest internal discussion in Ukraine, not to promise something abstract that cannot be achieved, but rather full membership in the European Union by 2027. It is unfair to Ukrainian citizens. It is unfair to a country that is engaged in such a fierce struggle and war for survival and for a future,” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze explained her position.
What is holding back progress?
According to Vitaliy Bezgin’s assessment, the current state of European integration has certain contradictory effects. In particular, in the sphere of regional policy and cohesion policy, growing disparities between territories are observed. Support instruments, such as European cooperation programs, are already available, but not everyone benefits from them equally. Communities with better human capital, favorable geographic locations, and relatively stable security situations are more actively attracting resources. In contrast, regions most affected by the war often lack sufficient capacity to participate in such programs. This creates an additional development gap.
The public investment system poses a separate challenge. In wartime, long-term planning becomes extremely difficult: planned projects can become obsolete in a single day. At the same time, current procedures do not always allow for rapid adjustments. This limits the ability to attract investment and participate in government programs.
“Ukraine has a pretty good administrative structure, in my opinion, even when compared to European Union member states. Ukraine has partial fiscal decentralization, as it runs up against issues such as the administration of local taxes. This tool is missing, but let’s be honest: the head of a community, especially a rural one, definitely knows better than the tax office who pays taxes there and who doesn’t,” the MP continued.
Another problem is the varying clarity of requirements. In the field of anti-corruption, the criteria are specific and clear: they can be implemented step by step. In the field of regional development, the requirements are more general—strategic planning, coordination, institutional capacity. This complicates their implementation, especially at the local level.
In addition, Vitalii Bezgin highlighted the issue of human resources. Retaining qualified specialists in communities requires resources and incentives. Without these, even the best tools remain ineffective.
Where is the crux of regional policy transformation?
Cohesion policy is one of the European Union’s key policies. Its main objective is to reduce socio-economic disparities between regions. This applies to both individual countries and the EU as a whole.
The European Union operates within a seven-year budget cycle. For the 2021–2027 period, the total budget exceeds one trillion euros, and approximately one-third of these funds are allocated specifically to cohesion policy. A significant portion of the funding is provided in the form of grants rather than loans, which is a major advantage for recipient countries. Oleksandr Nikolaev explained how this works.
“Poland serves as an example of the effective use of these resources; after joining the EU, it received approximately 10 billion euros annually. These funds contributed to infrastructure modernization, regional development, and improved living standards. For Ukraine, the potential is even greater. Most regions meet the criteria for receiving the maximum level of co-financing—up to 85% of project costs. This means that local budgets need to provide only 15% of the funding. However, access to these funds comes with a complex system of requirements: control, monitoring, transparency, and reporting. Every stage—from planning to implementation—is subject to verification. “That is why the key task is to create an effective institutional structure for managing the funds,” the official emphasized, adding that fulfilling the conditions set out in the received set of benchmarks in the field of regional policy will allow for the completion of negotiations on the relevant chapter and confirm readiness for EU membership in this area.
What should communities be doing right now?
“First, we need to build our capacity. Because when we join the European Union—and I believe it’s not a matter of principle but a matter of time—we, as communities, must be ready. That is, we need to have people—specialists—who can work with these structural funds, who know the rules, have already accomplished something, know how to write proposals, know how to win grants, know how to implement projects, and know how to report on them. Because this is very important,” emphasized the mayor of Dolyna.
It is important to actively participate in available programs right now. Among them are initiatives open to the entire territory of Ukraine, not just border regions. Over time, their number will grow, opening up new opportunities.
Partnership is no less important. Successful projects involve cooperation between the government, civil society, and residents. Involving citizens in decision-making aligns with European principles and enhances the effectiveness of project implementation.
The practice of discussing priorities with the community—for example, choosing between several possible projects—fosters trust and accountability. People feel a sense of ownership and become active participants in change.
“You need to come to the Valley, learn how we do things, and adapt this experience. Build your own teams, draft your own project proposals, submit applications, and implement them. You don’t necessarily have to start with large infrastructure projects. That’s probably impossible. You need to start with small, soft projects in the fields of culture, education, and so on,” advised Ivan Dyryv.
The event took place as part of the project “European Integration: Simple Explanations of Complex Issues” with financial support from the International Renaissance Foundation.
You can watch the video at this link
Source: UCMZ
