New Strategy Center organized on Tuesday, April 7, in Izmail, Odesa region, Ukraine, a workshop dedicated to increasing the capacity to access projects funded by European funds, cross-border cooperation, as well as Romania’s experience during its pre-accession period to the European Union. The event brought together representatives of 23 communities from the Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions, as well as representatives of the regional administrations of Odesa and Kherson and the city of Mykolaiv.
Hosted by the Humanitarian University of Izmail, the meeting welcomed as guests the Ambassador of Romania to Ukraine, H.E. Victor Micula, Romanian MPs from Galați County, Bogdan Ciucă and Bogdan Rodeanu, and Ukrainian MP Vitalii Bezghin (online). In his message, Oleg Kiper, Head of the Odesa Regional Administration, expressed his gratitude for this particularly useful initiative for local communities.
The guests highlighted the benefits of such activities, which contribute to a better understanding of both the advantages and challenges of EU-funded projects, as well as the opportunities for developing cross-border cooperation, connectivity infrastructure, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
George Scutaru, CEO of New Strategy Center, emphasized that NSC aims to serve as a platform bringing together experts, companies, and potential beneficiaries in the context of Ukraine’s reconstruction, supporting impactful projects for both Romania and Ukraine, and contributing to the development of strong, trust-based relations between the two countries.
Experts from Romania and Ukraine spoke about partnerships, concrete situations they have faced, and possible cooperation ideas that could bring together communities from both countries. Representatives of Leviatan Group presented various infrastructure projects they have been involved in in Romania, as well as perspectives on potential projects that could improve connectivity between Ukraine, Romania, and the Republic of Moldova.
On this occasion, New Strategy Center signed a cooperation protocol with the Development Agency of the Kherson region, aiming to identify projects that could be developed, particularly in the context of reconstruction, as well as drawing on Kherson’s experience in societal resilience.
On the same evening, New Strategy Center Ukraine was officially launched, an NGO established in Ukraine, in the Odesa region, whose main goal is to promote cooperation between Ukraine and Romania and to support Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO. The President of NSC Ukraine is Ecaterina Dadiverina, who is also the coordinator of the “Projects for Ukraine” Department within New Strategy Center.
New Strategy Center is grateful to the Rector of the University of Izmail, Yaroslav Kichuk, for his support in the successful organization of the event, as well as to the Ambassador of Romania to Kyiv, H.E. Victor Micula. At the same time, we express our gratitude to Leviatan Group for supporting the implementation of the project carried out in Izmail.