Ukrainian, Moldovan cities can join URBACT program with 2-mln-euro budget

MOSCOW. April 12 (Interfax) - Ukrainian and Moldovan cities have received access to the URBACT European exchange and learning program promoting sustainable urban development, URBACT Secretariat Director Teofil Gherca said at a mayor summit in Chisinau on Thursday, as reported by Ukrainian media.

"Cities in Ukraine and Moldova received access to the program after the URBACT Monitoring Committee made a decision and the European Commission approved it. Now they can file applications, take part in events, and join project networks," Gherca said.

He said he implied "soft projects" and exchange of information and practices of solving pressing urban development problems.

The URBACT specifies qualifications and geography of each contest in the technical assignment published on the website after the beginning of a network contest. Given specific needs of cities in Ukraine and Moldova, the URBACT will suggest an individual set of measures to bolster their potential and knowledge.

"EU laws and policy have an important effect on urban territories and give support for fully unlocking city potentials is a key goal of the policy of unity around the EU. In this sense, the URBACT seeks to support cities in Ukraine and Moldova so that they contribute to the EU integration process," Gherca said.

As reported, the URBACT IV Monitoring Committee approved the expansion of the program's geographical coverage to Ukraine and Moldova on October 20, 2023, and the EC approved the revision of the URBACT IV program on December 20, 2023.

The program now includes 27 EU member states, partner states (Switzerland and Norway), five countries benefiting from the Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia), and cities in Ukraine and Moldova.

The updated URBACT IV program financed by the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) provides 2 million euros for the participation of Ukrainian and Moldovan cities.