Lublin, the capital of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, hosted the 6th Three Seas Local Government Congress, one of the most important events dedicated to regional cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe. This year’s edition brought together nearly 2,000 participants from 37 countries.
The Congress is organised by the Lubelskie Voivodeship, which since 2021 has consistently strengthened the event’s position as a platform for dialogue, exchange of experience and enhanced cooperation among local and regional authorities.
Among the many debates held during the Congress, a panel dedicated to the Programme PL-UA attracted particular attention. The discussion entitled “Polish–Ukrainian cross-border cooperation for the development of local self-government”, moderated by Andrzej Słodki, Head of the Joint Secretariat of the Programme, brought together representatives of regional authorities from the Zakarpattya, Rivne, Volyn and Odesa oblasts, as well as the Lubelskie Voivodeship.
The discussion focused on practical opportunities for further strengthening cooperation and on the role that Polish local government experience can play in supporting Ukraine’s preparations for European Union membership.
The panellists unanimously emphasised the importance of Polish local government experience for the future development of cross-border cooperation, particularly in the context of Ukraine’s EU accession process. They also highlighted the significant role of the Programme PL-UA as an instrument enabling the transfer of knowledge and expertise from Polish beneficiaries to Ukrainian partners across a wide range of sectors, including public administration reform.
Ukraine has qualified professionals specialising in project management. Positive changes in this area are clearly visible. Undoubtedly, this progress has been supported by more than 20 years of cooperation with Polish institutions under the Poland – Ukraine Programme,
The Lubelskie Voibodeship was represented in the panel discussion by Zbigniew Wojciechowski, Chair of the Regional Development and Foreign Cooperation Committee of the Regional Assembly of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. He stressed that cooperation with Ukrainian oblasts remains one of the region’s key priorities, reflected in long-standing partnerships and active involvement in cross-border projects implemented under the Programme.
To effectively address the challenges faced by both Polish and Ukrainian regions, we need strong partnerships as well as increased funding under the future Programme Interreg Poland – Ukraine. As regional authorities, we understand local needs best and know how to make effective use of dedicated funds, thereby strengthening Polish–Ukrainian partnerships,
The 6th Three Seas Local Government Congress provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the achievements of cross-border projects implemented under the Programme and to inform participants about funding opportunities available through the Small Projects Calls.
Representatives of the Regional Contact Point in Lublin shared information about the Programme Interreg NEXT Poland – Ukraine 2021-2027 at an information and promotional stand, which attracted considerable interest from Congress participants.
We would like to thank all participants for the inspiring discussions and exchange of experiences!
