The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 (URC2024) is a continuation of the annual series of high-level political events dedicated to the swift recovery and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine. It is also the first Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted in an EU member state and comes at a critical time for Ukraine.
The conference will reflect the Lugano principles, including a “whole of society” approach to recovery through the meaningful participation of a broad range of stakeholders. Upholding the spirit of the Ukraine Reform Conferences that took place up until 2022, the URC2024 will also showcase Ukrainian reform progress in the context of its economic resilience and the EU accession process.
URC 2024 Goal
The key goal of the URC2024 is to mobilise continued international support for recovery, reconstruction, reform, and modernization of Ukraine. This includes providing emergency assistance for immediate needs, implementing rapid recovery projects and creating attractive conditions for businesses to unlock the private sector investments in Ukraine, and civil society to actively engage in the reconstruction process.
The URC2024 will focus on the following four thematic dimensions:
- Business Dimension – Mobilising the Private Sector for Reconstruction and Economic Growth: For successful reconstruction and economic growth, we need a strong engagement of the private sector. To facilitate investments in Ukraine both local and international, it is important to strengthen confidence in the Ukrainian business environment, showcase success stories and signal long-term political support. Important issues include business opportunities in key sectors of the Ukrainian economy, state support instruments, international support in access to finance and a green and digital transition.
- Human Dimension – Social Recovery and Human Capital for the Future of Ukraine: The human dimension is key to recovery. It includes the mobilisation of human capital for reconstruction as well as issues of social cohesion and inclusiveness. To unleash the potential of all citizens at home and abroad, particularly women and youth, we need to ensure that Ukraine is a country worth living in for all: promoting education, healthcare and the provision of social services and infrastructure, as well as advancing mine action and the integration of veterans, internally displaced people and returnees.
- Local and Regional Dimension – Recovery of Municipalities and Regions: Local and regional actors play a central part in reconstruction. The Conference will spotlight the role of local communities with respect to recovery, the distribution of financial resources and capacity-building. This entails creating liveable resilient communities through sustainable urban development, housing and local economic activity. At the same time, we need to address transparency and accountability as they are key to building citizens’ trust in Ukraine’s resilience.
- EU Dimension – EU Accession and Related Reforms: EU accession is an enabling process for economic growth, investment security and the sustainable recovery of a competitive economy. It also supports stable political institutions and guarantees human rights and the rule of law as well as functioning public service institutions. By stocktaking and showcasing progress in addition to highlighting key instruments of support, the conference aims to build confidence in the reform process.
Important cross-cutting issues such as macro-economic stability, resilience and security, infrastructure, housing, energy, climate protection, the green recovery, healthcare, education, environment and gender will be integrated into the abovementioned dimensions. Moreover, there will be an intergovernmental element and a Recovery Forum as an integral part of the URC2024.
The Recovery Forum will provide an interactive, on-site platform for Ukrainian, German and international stakeholders. It will include a business fair, that will enable local government representatives, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as major and international companies to interact, learn from each other, build new partnerships and seize business opportunities.
Participants
Invited heads of state and government, ministers and representatives of states, international organisations and financial institutions, businesses and civil society organisations.
Further information will follow shortly at the event’s official website.