Luxembourg Hosts International Forum “Bridges of Solidarity: Humanitarian and Social Initiatives from City to City”

On November 13, 2024, Luxembourg hosted the international forum “Bridges of Solidarity: Humanitarian and Social Initiatives from City to City.” This significant event served as a platform to establish partnerships between municipalities in Luxembourg and various Ukrainian cities and to explore funding opportunities for social and economic projects in Ukraine. Organized by the municipality of Strassen in collaboration with the Luxembourg-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, the forum emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation and solidarity.

According to the Luxembourg-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce President, Ms. Evgenia Palii, this forum comes at a critical time. “As global attention often shifts to broader issues, like the recent U.S. elections, it’s essential to prevent ‘Ukraine fatigue’ and to keep fostering local-level partnerships. Such cooperation opens doors for local authorities in both Ukraine and Luxembourg to address humanitarian needs, support reconstruction, and aid in the rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen,” Ms. Palii stated.

The event was attended by mayors and government representatives from major Ukrainian cities, including Lviv, Poltava, Odesa, and Ternopil, along with smaller municipalities like Bucha, Vyzhnytsia, and Skadovsk. They were joined by Emile Eicher, President of SYVICOL (the Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities), who encouraged his Luxembourgish colleagues to establish “sister city” agreements with Ukrainian municipalities. The city of Esch-sur-Alzette, for instance, has recently partnered with the Ukrainian city of Stryi in one such agreement.

“The war in Ukraine has shown us that our democracy and solidarity require ongoing, collaborative efforts. Together, we are stronger than alone,” Mr. Eicher remarked, emphasizing the role of cooperation in sustaining democratic values.

In addition, Luxembourg City Hall hosted a special meeting for Ukrainian mayors, providing them with information on accessing European funds to support municipal projects. Violen Sylvestre von Kameke, a credit specialist from the European Investment Bank (EIB), spoke about the EIB’s commitment to adapting projects to meet Ukraine’s specific needs. She shared, “We’ve already implemented over 300 projects in 120 communities across Ukraine, and we aim to help deliver results even faster. In two weeks, I will be in Zhytomyr to inaugurate a new hospital, but I hope to see many more of these facilities opened.”

One key initiative proposed at the forum was the “Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Ukraine” program, which focuses on the renovation of hospitals, schools, administrative buildings, and cultural centers to enhance energy efficiency—an important priority for both economic and environmental sustainability.

This forum underscores the ongoing commitment to building strong, resilient communities through international cooperation, mutual support, and solidarity.