Forging Resilience: The Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation Builds a Framework for Recovery

Lviv, Ukraine – Amidst the profound challenges posed by war and recovery, hope has found a voice at the Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation, being held from 28 May to 30 May 2025 in Lviv. With an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual respect, this landmark event brought together political leaders, municipal officials, international development experts, and civil society actors from both Ukraine, Slovenia and further afield. Their shared goal: to forge new pathways for local recovery, regional reconstruction, and a stronger European future.

A Dialogue Rooted in Practical Solidarity

Held at the shelter-level conference room of the Astoria Hotel, the forum opened with remarks from Lviv’s Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, alongside senior representatives from the governments of Ukraine and Slovenia. Their words set the tone for a forum that would prove to be both visionary and action-oriented.

Notably, the forum isn't just symbolic—it includes a formal signing ceremony between Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the German Development Cooperation organisation (GIZ). This marks a tangible commitment to long-term partnership and resource sharing.

Municipal Partnerships: A Pillar of Ukraine’s Recovery

At the heart of the forum are its International Municipal Partnerships (IMPs)—a unique and powerful framework that pairs Ukrainian municipalities with Slovenian counterparts to share expertise and coordinate reconstruction. In the words of Ms Nelia Petrus, Mayor of Poliana, “Our Slovenian partners help us see beyond crisis—toward sustainable, smart rebuilding.”

Mayors from municipalities such as Kočevje, Ladyzhyn, Kopychyntsi, and Murska Sobota showcased how peer-to-peer diplomacy is translating into real-world improvements—from housing policy to waste management, and from local democracy to regional development.

Slovenian Expertise Meets Ukrainian Resilience

Discussions so far have also highlighted Slovenia’s post-conflict development model, offering Ukraine vital lessons from a fellow former socialist republic that successfully integrated into the EU. With presentations by Robert Drobnič (General Directorate for Regional Development, Slovenia) and Oleksii Riabykin (Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities), the forum encouraged Ukrainian leaders to think ambitiously and structurally about recovery.

At a session focused on housing, Ms. Mariana Kuzemska from CEDOS (a Ukrainian think tank focused on urban living) reminded the audience: “It’s not just about rebuilding homes. It’s about designing communities where people feel safe, heard, and empowered.”

Youth, Memory and the European Horizon

The forum’s final day will reflect its long-term vision: a guest lecture at Ivan Franko National University by MEP Vladimir Prebilič, symbolising both Slovenia’s investment in Ukrainian youth and Ukraine’s trajectory toward European integration.

Participants are also paying tribute at Lychakiv Cemetery, honouring the memory of both Ukrainian fallen soldiers and Slovenian soldiers of WWI, underscoring how remembrance can unite nations across generations and borders.

A Shared Future in the Making

From candid mayoral feedback sessions to friendly football matches, the forum embodies a refreshing mix of sincerity and strategy. It is not only a venue for diplomacy, but a laboratory for reconstruction, built on mutual learning and respect.

As Ms Jelka Klemenc of the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) has observed:

“Ukraine’s recovery is Europe’s responsibility. What we build together here in Lviv—partnerships, trust, policies—are the scaffolding of a new, resilient Ukraine.”

The Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation may not be making headlines around the world, but in the quiet resilience of municipal leaders and the solidarity of small nations, it is writing a profound chapter in the story of Ukraine’s path forward.