​​On 24 February 2023, the CoR Working Group on Ukraine will meet in Gdansk, Poland, upon the invitation of the Chair, Ms. Aleks​andra Dulkiewicz (EPP/PL), Mayor of Gdansk. The meeting is extended to the Conference of the Presidents.

On the one year anniversary of the full-scale Russian military invasion against Ukraine, the members will discuss the overall political context around Ukraine's EU accession process, transparency and good governance at local level in times of war, as well as current emergency needs in Ukraine and beyond.

The programme of the day will also include study visits and events related to European solidarity with Ukraine. 

Agenda:

1. Adoption of the agenda

2. Welcome by the chair

• Aleksandra DULKIEWICZ, Mayor of Gdańsk, Chair of the Working Group

• Andriy SADOVYI, Mayor of Lviv

3. Adoption of the modified Work Programme 2023-2025

9:45-10.30 a.m.

4. Introductory session: Ukraine's EU accession process – reform agenda and current political context

• Anna JAROSZ-FRIIS, Acting Director of the Ukraine Service, DG NEAR
• Olena TSYBUCH, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ukraine to Poland

Exchange of views with the members of the working group and the presidents of the political groups

5. Thematic Session 1: Transparency and good governance at local level in times of war

• Allan PAGH KRISTENSEN, Head of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine, EUACI
• Gunn Marit HELGESEN, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
• Oleksandr SLOBOZHAN , Executive Director of the Association of Ukrainian Cities
• Antonella VALMORBIDA, Secretary General of ALDA – The European Association for Local Democracy
• Olena OGORODNIK , Lead, Transparent Cities Programme, Transparency International Ukraine

Exchange of views with the members

Coffee break

11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

6. Thematic Session 2: Current emergency needs in Ukraine and beyond

• Władysław ORTYL (PL/ECR), President of the Podkarpackie Region
• Gustaw Marek BRZEZIN (PL/EPP), President of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region
• Ivan SLOBODIANYK , Chief executive officer of the All-Ukrainian Association of the Communities

Contributions by Ukrainian mayors/regional politicians (on emergency needs, heating, Generators of Hope initiative) andPolish and other EU mayors/regional politicians (on temporarily displaced people from Ukraine)

Exchange of views with the members

7. Concluding remarks

• Vasco Alves CORDEIRO, President of the CoR
• Aleksandra DULKIEWICZ, Mayor of Gdańsk, Chair of the Working Group