Rebuild Ukraine Forum 2026 / Panel XIIIb / 23 October 2026

At the beginning of the panel, a symbolic moment of consolidating bilateral relations took place with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the municipalities of Kiliya (Chilia Nouă, Ukraine) and Chilia Veche (Romania). The mayors of the two localities highlighted their deep historical ties and the natural connection provided by the Danube River. The Ukrainian official thanked Romania for the immediate support offered since the very first days of the war, emphasising the importance of attracting European funds for the well-being of both communities.

The discussions focused on the importance of legislative alignment and parliamentary diplomacy to facilitate a “Marshall Plan 2” for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Ivan Us highlighted the efforts of the Verkhovna Rada to harmonise national legislation with European Union standards, emphasising that administrative decentralisation is key to resolving bureaucratic bottlenecks (such as conflicts between EU public procurement rules and national Ukrainian control mechanisms). Nicolae Petrețchi underscored the fundamental role of the Ukrainian minority in Romania as a pillar of the strategic partnership, pointing to the 42 cross-border projects already signed in the border regions. He advocated systemic parliamentary cooperation between Bucharest and Kyiv, allowing Romania to transfer its technical expertise in EU integration to resolve legislative discrepancies, including issues related to the payment of experts in EU-funded projects. In his video message, Vitaliy Bezgin reinforced the idea that Romania and Ukraine should think beyond borders, in terms of a shared future and common industry, praising the Carpathian Initiative and regional partnerships.

At the level of local implementation, Mykhailo Pavliuk detailed the direct impact of cross-border cooperation, noting the 120 active partnerships between the Chernivtsi region and Romanian counties (Suceava, Botoșani, Satu Mare, Constanța). A successful example is the healthcare collaboration with the Suceava County Council, which facilitated the provision of telemedicine equipment and the renovation of paediatric medical infrastructure. The panel also addressed the major challenges faced by the 52 local communities in the Chernivtsi region, particularly small municipalities struggling with co-financing and cash flow for projects they have already won. The proposed solution is to continue the financial decentralisation process, giving local authorities better budgetary predictability to support current priorities: modernising border crossing points, building civil infrastructure, rehabilitating veterans and integrating refugees.