U-LEAD with Europe

📊 Sharing the main indicators of June! U-LEAD with Europe continues to support hromadas on their way to development. We thank everyone who is with us! 💙💛

📍 Regions know what works. The Centre knows where we're heading. Together — we can do more! Yesterday, six regional visual experts, heads of operational teams, and the U-LEAD communications team came together at the #HouseOfDecentralization in Kyiv to explore how we can better showcase U-LEAD’s impact in hromadas. 🎯 On the agenda: – U-LEAD’s new Communications Strategy for 2025–2027; – how to write content people actually want to read. – how to create visuals that grab attention instantly. 📊 And media monitoring, of course! Oksana Malychkovych from the LBI agency shared why measuring communication effectiveness isn’t optional — it’s essential. Because data isn’t just about reporting. It reflects the true scope of our impact. 📢 U-LEAD with Europe works for municipalities — and it’s thanks to a team that sees meaning in every post, video, or success story that our work reaches the people who truly care.

👶🍭 A project for a new kindergarten - safe, modern and inclusive - has been developed in the Yarmolyntsi municipality More than 300 preschool children in the Yarmolyntsi municipality need a quality educational space. After the old “Dzvinochok” kindergarten was damaged by shelling, the municipality decided not only to replace the destroyed building, but also to create something much better. 🏫 With the support of the U-LEAD, the Yarmolyntsi municipality has developed a project for a new preschool educational institution in the village of Nove Selo. The building with an area of almost 4 thousand m² will accommodate 115 children in 6 groups. Special attention will be paid to IDPs, who will be provided with barrier-free access, a resource room, shelter and safe movement space. What is planned: ✅ Construction of a new facility with a capacity for 115 children and a civil protection structure (CPS) for 158 people with energy efficiency class “A” ✅ Autonomous heating and a biological wastewater treatment plant; ✅ Modern engineering networks, video surveillance, LED lighting, Wi-Fi; ✅ Separate play area, sports ground and landscaping; ✅ New jobs: the kindergarten staff will increase from 14 to 43 people. The new kindergarten project aims not only to fill the shortage of educational infrastructure, but also to become a model for future educational projects in the region. By focusing on safety, inclusiveness, and sustainability, the project intends to make a significant impact on the educational development of the municipality. 🔗 Details about the project on the DREAM platform: https://bit.ly/4exhtur

🇺🇦🤝🇩🇰 As part of the Twinning Cooperation between Guldborgsund Municipality and the Ukrainian municipalities of Dolyna, Novoselytsia, and Yasinia, a study tour to Guldborgsund took place from June 16 to 20, 2025. The visit deepened cooperation and facilitated the exchange of practical experience on rural development. Throughout the week, Ukrainian specialists participated in a hands-on learning programme focused on participatory planning, sustainable village development strategies, and the role of data and technology in strengthening local municipalities. Participants also got interesting insights into the role of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in fostering local development The working programme included visits to successful examples of revitalized rural areas and workshops with Danish local development experts. 💫 Through this peer-to-peer exchange, the Twinning Cooperation project equipped Ukrainian municipalities with new tools, approaches, and connections to support resilient rural development at home.

🔥 Being first isn’t scary when you know what you’re working towards! Over the past 7 years, the Mena municipality in Chernihiv region has gone from a group of village councils to a strong, united team — building quality services, embracing digital tools, and sharing their journey with others. 📍 Where did it all begin? With a development strategy created together with U-LEAD with Europe. 🚒 Then came the oblast’s first local fire department. 📑 An ASC offering 400 services and a shift to electronic document management. 🏫 School autonomy — even before the pandemic. 🛡 And in 2024 — the “Digital Shield” project, boosting cyber security and setting an example for others. What’s the secret? Investing in people, continuous learning, and a commitment to change. The Mena municipality proves when you invest in people, you invest in the future 💪

📜 June 28 is more than just a date — it's the day when Ukraine enshrined in its Constitution the values it stands for: 🔹 human rights 🔹 democracy 🔹 rule of law 🔹 decentralisation ❗ The 1996 Constitution laid the foundation for a powerful local self-government reform. It gave hromadas the tools to shape their own development and future. 👥 For years, U-LEAD with Europe has been supporting this path — a path of trust, partnership, and shared effort for stronger municipalities. Today, Ukrainians are not just witnessing change — they are driving it in their hromadas. This is living democracy. This is true bottom-up power. Happy #ConstitutionDay, Ukraine! 💙💛

🏥 "We decided to build our own" — that’s how the Holovyn municipality created a local outpatient clinic from scratch. After decentralization, the municipality was left without medical services: the neighboring former district center could no longer support local health posts. So Holovyn didn’t wait — they took matters into their own hands, with support from the Rivne Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe. 📌 They set up a municipal healthcare facility, signed a contract with the NHSU, and explained the changes to residents — and today: ✅ over 50% of residents have signed declarations with local doctors; ✅ the clinic is fully operational, with equipment and room to grow. Yes, the municipality is still looking for more doctors — but the most important thing is this: they took responsibility and brought healthcare closer to the people 💪 🔗 Read more in our story: https://lnkd.in/dVwuNr5U

📢 Case of France: Experience with EU Cohesion Policy - Lessons for Ukraine U-LEAD with Europe is pleased to present a new case study: “Preparation of Ukraine for its accession to the EU in the area of Cohesion policy: Case study on France” – part of a series of comparative papers supporting Ukraine’s EU integration efforts under Chapter 22. This study explores how France – an EU Member State – organizes its institutional architecture, ensures coordination between ministries, and strengthens its regional and local actors to effectively implement EU Cohesion Policy. 🔑 Key insights for Ukraine: 📊 Multi-level governance in action: France applies a layered approach with clear remits for national, regional, and local authorities, including powerful Regional Councils. 🏛️ Institutional coordination: The Secrétariat général des affaires européennes (SGAE) plays a key role in coordinating positions and dialogue with the European Commission. 🔁 Interministerial consultation: The system is based on structured and inclusive inter-agency consultation, enhancing both efficiency and transparency. 📉 Remaining challenges: Despite strong coordination structures, persistent disparities between French regions remain a concern. 🧭 Recommendations for Ukraine: • Ensure structured horizontal coordination across ministries. • Define clear mandates for regional authorities in managing future EU funds. • Institutionalize inter-ministerial and multi-level consultation bodies. • Prepare local governments for Cohesion Policy management responsibilities.

🤝On 20 June 2025, Bastian Veigel represented U-LEAD with Europe at the final meeting of the Ad hoc Working Party on Reconstruction and Support for Ukraine (RESUA) in #Brussels, held under the Polish EU Council Presidency. Invited by Poland and the EU Delegation, he spoke alongside the mayors of Mykolaiv and Kopychyntsi, highlighting Ukraine’s decentralization reform and U-LEAD’s support to local self-government. The presentation was well received and reaffirmed EU Member States’ recognition of decentralization as key to Ukraine’s democratic resilience. European Committee of the Regions Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union

🤝 Rural development is a common cause In the city of Volodymyr, Volyn region, heads of the municipalities gathered to talk about the main thing: how to make rural areas stronger! The meeting was held at the Youth Center in the format of a local dialog. It was organized by the team of the U-LEAD with Europe Regional Office in the Volyn region. 🤝 Participants discussed how to implement the European approach to rural development, where education, culture, ecology, and security are important alongside the agricultural sector. 📚 Special attention was paid to the U-LEAD's training programme “Steps for Specialists”, which helps hromadas build strong local policies for rural areas. 📣 U-LEAD with Europe continues to support hromadas in dialogue, partnership and professional growth. Together - faster and more confident!