Ukraine and Poland Sign Memorandum on Regional Recovery and Development
On May 20, 2025, Ukraine and Poland signed a landmark Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at strengthening regional development and post-war recovery.
The document was signed by Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksii Kuleba, and Poland’s Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, The Gaze reports, citing the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.
The agreement marks a new phase in the strategic partnership between the two countries, focusing on regional development, decentralization, EU financial governance, and collaborative efforts to enhance community safety.
One of the key aspects of the memorandum is the transfer of Ukrainian wartime expertise to Polish partners. This includes practical know-how on how to protect civilians, rapidly restore critical infrastructure, and maintain regional resilience under daily threat conditions.
In turn, Poland will provide expert assistance to Ukraine as it prepares to participate in European structural funds, particularly within Chapter 22 of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.
Poland, which successfully utilized EU funds to develop its regions during its own accession process, is now sharing its experience to support Ukraine’s integration.
Other areas of cooperation outlined in the memorandum include:
• Implementation of EU cohesion policy best practices in Ukraine
• Support for strategic planning at national, regional, and subregional levels
• Development of an administration model for future EU funding mechanisms in Ukraine
• Preparation of a new spatial statistics system (NUTS)
• Involvement of Polish businesses in reconstruction projects via economic missions and regional investment
“This is joint work on a safe and sustainable future for both countries. We are preparing for full integration into European regional development programs while supporting our neighbors with practical knowledge that has already proven effective in extremely difficult conditions,” said Oleksii Kuleba following the meeting.
The memorandum is valid through 2030 and will be implemented through coordination between deputy ministers and relevant departments from both countries.
As The Gaze previously reported, Polish customs authorities have seized five metric tons of aircraft tyres intended for Boeing civilian planes, which were set to transit through Belarus and Russia in violation of European Union sanctions.