U4U and CEE Bankwatch Network: Decision-making role of civil society in the reconstruction of Ukraine

The United4Ukraine Network (U4U) and CEE Bankwatch Network organized an expert panel discussion “Decision-making role of civil society in the reconstruction of Ukraine”.

The discussion took place on 8 March, Wednesday, at 13:30-15:00 CET (Brussels time) in the European Parliament and online.

In June 2022, at the Lugano conference, the Ukrainian government first attempted to present a widely accepted Ukraine Reconstruction Plan. More than 2500 civil society organisations (CSOs) were claimed to participate in the working groups preparing the Plan. However, a year after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the mechanisms of further inclusion of civil society into Ukraine’s reconstruction are unclear.

How to foster CSOs’ involvement in the Ukraine Reconstruction process in Ukraine? How can CSOs be included in the newly created bodies to facilitate Ukraine reconstruction (the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform, Steering Committee)? What are the ideas about CSOs decision-making function in the RebuildUkraine Facility, the main legal instrument for the European Union’s support, which will be embedded in the EU budget?

Watch the recording of the discussion here.

Meeting Agenda

13:30-14:30 – Panel speakers:

Gabriel BLANC, DG NEAR, the European Commission – The newly established DG NEAR.E-Ukraine Service and the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform.

Hugues MINGARELLI, Lecturer in international relations, former EU Ambassador to Ukraine (2016-2019) and Director of the European Agency for the reconstruction of the Balkans (1999-2002)

Nataliya ANDRUSEVYCH, Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment”

Valeriya IZHYK, CEE Bankwatch – Best practices and lessons learned on CSOs involvement in donor coordination platforms: hints for Ukrainian case

14:30-15:00 – Discussion with MEPs and Experts

The event was be moderated by Andrius KUBILIUS, MEP, Coordinator of the United for Ukraine Network.

We are looking forward to welcome you in our discussion.

Best regards,

Andrius Kubilius