Romania–Ukraine–Republic of Moldova | 12 Cooperation Agreements Signed to Develop Cross-Border Projects and Attract European Funding

More than 200 Representatives of the Administrations of the Three Countries Gathered in Constanța

Twelve cooperation agreements between local authorities from Romania and Ukraine were signed during the 10th edition of the annual working and training meeting organized by the Union of Ukrainians in Romania. The event took place from 27 to 30 August in Constanța County, under the theme “Strategies for Improving the Performance of Local Public Administrations and Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation between Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.”

The meeting brought together more than 200 representatives of central, regional and local administrations, members of parliament and experts from Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. The event focused on strengthening institutional cooperation and identifying solutions for the development of joint projects.

12 Partnerships for Joint Projects

The signing of the 12 cooperation agreements was the main highlight of the meeting. The partnerships bring together communities from the counties of Maramureș, Satu Mare, Timiș and Suceava, as well as from the Chernivtsi and Transcarpathia regions.

The agreements provide a framework for direct cooperation between local administrations on both sides of the border and for the preparation of joint projects eligible for European funding.

Building on Previous Partnerships

At the opening of the meeting, Member of Parliament Nicolae-Miroslav Petrețchi, President of the Union of Ukrainians in Romania, emphasized the importance of strengthening administrative capacity and cooperation among communities in Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

According to him, partnerships developed during previous editions have already begun to generate tangible results, including by attracting funding for investments and the development of local projects.

In November 2025, the Union of Ukrainians in Romania facilitated the signing of 26 agreements between administrative-territorial units in Romania and Ukraine. Some of these partnerships subsequently served as the basis for projects submitted under the Interreg NEXT Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027 Programme.

These include cooperation agreements between Micula and Yasinia, Socond and Yamnytsia, Culciu and Lysets, Săuca and Bedevlya, as well as Păulești and Tysmenytsia.

Local Cooperation as a Tool for European Integration

One of the objectives of the meeting was to strengthen the capacity of local administrations to identify and prepare projects eligible for European funding.

Nicolae-Miroslav Petrețchi highlighted that direct dialogue between local administrations and European funding specialists can contribute to the development of better-structured projects tailored to the needs of local communities.

At the same time, these exchanges of experience give representatives from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of European public administration mechanisms and the funding opportunities available in the context of the European integration process.

Digitalization, Transparency and Sustainable Development

Discussions during the meeting addressed topics such as institutional cooperation, attracting European funding, transparency and ethics in public administration, digitalization of public services, and citizen participation in decision-making processes.

Another important topic was the use of cultural heritage as a resource for sustainable development and for strengthening ties between communities in cross-border regions.

International Participation at the Constanța Meeting

The event was attended by representatives of the Parliament and Government of Romania, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as well as county and regional administrations from the three countries.

Messages were also delivered, among others, by representatives of Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs, members of the Romanian and Ukrainian parliaments, and Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress.

New Cross-Border Projects, the Next Step

At the conclusion of the meeting, Nicolae-Miroslav Petrețchi expressed his confidence that the 12 new agreements would provide a foundation for concrete projects and contribute to strengthening cooperation between Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

By turning institutional partnerships into European-funded projects, border communities aim to attract investment, modernize public services and create new opportunities for regional development.