This week has seen further escalation of conflict in Ukraine, with Russia bombing Ukrainian cities and damaging civilian infrastructure, leaving 19 people dead and 105 wounded. The bombings also had a great cost on the average Ukrainian – 301 settlements have stayed without electricity as a consequence of damage to civilian infrastructure. As normality of life is again threatened by the escalation of war, Europe must prepare for a new wave of Ukrainian refugees.
But as in chaos lays opportunity, the European Union remains committed to support Ukraine in various ways, ranging from granting Ukraine EU candidate country status to adapting cohesion funds to assist Ukrainian refugees via the Cohesion Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE). This support, given at a time of need, will forge a new bond between Europe and Ukraine.
CARE and the European Alliance
It is often overlooked that regions and cities have a significant role in building such a bond at the bottom level. EU's regions and cities have already created an European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. This initiative aims to create a united front to assist Ukraine in its reconstruction and share local level expertise with Ukrainian partners. The alliance offers not only material resources, but also assistance in strengthening local democracy.
As an example, in April 2022, Stockholm's authorities offered to assist Kyiv via experience sharing, both in practical rebuilding efforts (e.g. urban planning, sewage, water) and in education and democracy governing.
The European Alliance of Cities and Regions aims to do the same, but on a larger scale. Its goal is not only to facilitate return to normality for Ukrainians as fast as possible via turning the electricity back on, but also to accelerate democratic development.
Regions and cities aiding Ukraine through ideology and practice
Regions also contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine. In the true spirit of a bottom-up principle, reconstruction starts with the individual. As millions were forced to leave their homes, European regions and cities were the ones to take them in. Individual regions are responsible for long term integration of refugees into local community, including providing education, housing, employment opportunities and others, with administrative support through CARE – housing, educational and social activities.
If the process is done correctly, asylum seekers from Ukraine fleeing Russian terror may study, work and learn a European language. By seeing what Europe has to offer fully and by making connections across host countries, Ukrainian individuals strengthen their support for Europe.
EU's regions and cities aid not just via practical experience in reconstruction, but also ideologically. They facilitate the development of local democratic norms and other European practises with the bottom-up approach. In other words, normative power – the export of European norms – is at play.
This, alongside the positive attitude of the average Ukrainian resulting from the EU's support, makes Ukraine stand in a favourable position for the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) – a financial and technical tool that aims to facilitate economic and political reforms in potential EU member states.
By receiving EU candidate status, Ukraine became a potential beneficiary of IPA. Thus, there is a possibility that Ukraine can quickly implement the necessary reforms once reconstruction begins, with changes at the individual and regional levels. Despite not being a full EU member state in the short term, Ukraine would be a better integrated European country than it was before.
Regions and cities have an important role in making sure the war in Ukraine will be remembered not just as a tragedy caused by Russian barbarism, but as a birth of a new, stronger Ukraine. A new Ukraine that stands on foundations built upon aid by cities and regions within the European Union.
Janis Ievinš | Edited by Vicky Hristova
