Declaration of the 2nd International Summit of Cities and Regions

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May 8-9, 2024, Kyiv

We, representatives of local and regional governments of the the Republic of Austria, Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of Denmark, Italian Republic, Canada, Japan, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Poland, Portuguese Republic, Romania, Slovak Republic, the United States of America, Republic of Hungary, French Republic, Czech Republic, and Ukraine,

recognizing the importance of the 1st International Summit of Cities and Regions for the expansion of assistance to Ukrainian cities and communities; referring to the fundamental principles of previous Summit and the Declaration of the International Summit of Cities and Regions to promote the recovery of cities and communities in Ukraine, as well as emphasizing the importance of further cooperation;

relying on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, reaffirming commitment to the values and standards of the Council of Europe;

taking into account the approaching negotiation process regarding Ukraine's membership in the European Union, with the aim of enhancing the capacity of Ukrainian local self-government bodies to cooperate with European institutions and participate in the development of policies concerning the development of regions and communities;

acknowledging the importance of ensuring transparency, multi-level governance and development of ecosystem for accountable financing and management of regional recovery;

condemning the continuation of Russian terror, which includes the mass shelling of civilian and critical infrastructure, committing new acts of ecocide on the territory of Ukraine, including the undermining of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station;

emphasizing the key priority areas of the 2nd International Summit of Cities and Regions, namely: the economic development of communities and regions, the European integration of Ukraine, addressing challenges faced by internally displaced persons, the rehabilitation of war victims, and the recovery and development of communities and territories in war and post-war times;

Expressing readiness to:

• support the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, the restoration of its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, the inherent right to self-defense against unprovoked armed aggression by the Russian Federation, and the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula for the restoration of comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace in Ukraine and security worldwide;
• continue comprehensive deepening of cooperation with the European Union and our partners to ensure sustainable development of Ukrainian cities and regions, including infrastructure, logistics, construction, metallurgy, energy, agriculture, healthcare, environment, to create and localize joint projects and production in Ukraine, as well as attract additional investments and accelerate economic development;
• support the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee, a new format of cooperation and interaction between representatives of regions of Ukraine and the European Committee of the Regions;
• provide assistance to direct cooperation and partnership between leaders of local and regional self-government with Ukrainian cities and regions to develop the capacity of local self-government, enhance the qualifications of executive authorities at the regional and local levels, effectively participate in European programs and implement development programs, as well as strengthen the institutional capacity of national coordinators of EU cross-border cooperation programs, namely Interreg, and continue their implementation until 2027;
• continue the implementation of the LEADER program at the level of villages and rural communities, as well as the introduction of a national management and control system for the implementation of transnational, cross-border, and interregional cooperation programs to promote regional integration and interaction with neighboring countries;
• promote the expansion of cooperation with partners and the Energy Community to restore and modernize Ukraine's energy system on the basis of digitalization and ensure resilience, creating decentralized energy systems in regions and communities and implementing modern energy-efficient technologies, including renewable energy, in various sectors of the regional economy;
• continue to work on the implementation of mechanisms for rapid response to the reconstruction of civilian and critical infrastructure, the development of long-term programs aimed at the restoration and development of Ukrainian cities and regions;
• start the process of training community architects and joining them to the New European Bauhaus network, ensure the involvement of scientists and artists in the implementation of the main values of the New European Bauhaus: sustainable development, aesthetics and inclusion;
• continue to provide humanitarian and financial support to internally displaced persons to create comfortable living conditions and further integrate them into society;
• continue to attract international assistance to expand regional networks of rehabilitation centers, prosthetics, surgery, psychological support, and resilience for individuals affected by armed aggression by the Russian Federation, as well as expand new rehabilitation programs for Ukrainians abroad; promote the integration of veterans into economic regional development, support retraining and adaptation of veterans in the labor market and society;
• promote the exchange of experience and best practices with cities and regions of our partners for joint comprehensive development in the areas of urban planning, infrastructure, security, law enforcement, healthcare, education, environment within the framework of concluded agreements on friendship and cooperation.