The three-day event, entitled ‘Ukraine on the Path to the EU: International Cooperation for a European Future’, brought together the programme’s scholarship holders to discuss the key challenges and prospects for Ukraine’s European integration, the country’s post-war reconstruction, and the role of young people in these processes.
In his welcoming address, the Deputy Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine, Dr Jan Philipp Wölbern, emphasised the importance of the younger generation’s active participation in building a democratic, strong and European Ukraine.
The highlight of the first day was a presentation by Dmytro Lyvch, a partner at CIVITTA Ukraine, chairman of the board at EasyBusiness and co-founder of the Centre for Economic Recovery. In his presentation ‘Regional Economic Development and the Economic Aspects of European Integration’, he analysed the impact of the full-scale war on Ukraine’s economy and outlined the opportunities presented by accession to the European Union. The speaker paid particular attention to issues of regional development, attracting investment, integrating Ukrainian enterprises into European value chains, and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth. According to Dmytro Livch, European integration is not only a political choice for Ukraine, but also one of the key factors in its future economic competitiveness and reconstruction.
A key part of the programme was a meeting at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kyiv. During their discussion with the First Secretary of the Political Department, Stefan Raffiner, the participants discussed current political developments, the prospects for Ukraine’s European integration, and Germany’s role in supporting reforms and strengthening our country’s security.
The second day of the seminar began with a lecture by Kateryna Datsenko, co-founder of the non-governmental organisation ‘Vshanuy’. In her talk on ‘The Culture of Remembrance and Its Significance for Ukrainian Society’, she raised the highly topical issue of preserving the memory of Ukraine’s fallen defenders and civilian victims of the war. The speaker presented contemporary approaches to memorialisation, which help not only to honour the memory of the fallen but also to foster social unity, responsibility and respect for human dignity. The discussion demonstrated that the culture of remembrance is an integral part of Ukraine’s democratic development and social resilience.
The programme continued with a presentation by Professor Yaroslav Teleshun of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, who spoke about the importance of the fight against corruption for the country’s sustainable development and its progress towards membership of the European Union. Participants had the opportunity to discuss the importance of the rule of law, the transparency of state institutions and public trust in the authorities as essential conditions for European integration.
A special place in the programme was given to group work on the topic ‘The role of Ukrainian youth in Ukraine’s European integration’. Working in teams, the scholarship holders set out their own vision of how the younger generation can contribute to the implementation of reforms, the development of civil society and the strengthening of European values in Ukraine.
The second day concluded with a formal ceremony to present certificates to the programme participants. For many of the scholarship holders, this moment marked a symbolic culmination of a year of study, professional development and active participation in a community of young leaders who are keen to contribute to Ukraine’s future.
The final day of the seminar was devoted to the historical dimension of Ukraine’s European choice and concluded with an exchange of views on the programme and well-wishes for one another’s future.
The concluding seminar demonstrated that Ukraine’s European path encompasses not only political and economic reforms, but also profound societal changes relating to memory, accountability and civic engagement. Over the course of three days, participants gained valuable insights from leading experts, shared their own experiences and reaffirmed their readiness to play an active role in building a democratic, European Ukraine.
