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16.04.2026
The course “Municipal Partnerships for European Integration” has started: key takeaways
The online course “Municipal Partnerships for European Integration” has started, and we are sharing key insights from the first introductory session.
More than two-thirds of EU legislation has a direct impact on municipalities in the process of European integration.
This means:
— an impact on socio-economic development — municipalities begin to compete for people and resources at the European level;
— the need to implement EU legislation — investing in infrastructure, adapting policies, administrative procedures, and procurement approaches;
— new opportunities — in particular for implementing projects funded by the EU, primarily within the framework of Cohesion Policy.
The most significant impact on Ukrainian municipalities will come from EU legislation related to regional development, environment, rural development, transport, energy efficiency, social services, and fundamental rights.
More on this can be found in the Polaris Programme report “Local Europe in Ukraine: The Impact of European Integration on Local Self-Government”.
How to approach European integration at the local level already now
Based on the first course session, five practical steps for municipalities can be identified:
— review the community development strategy through the lens of EU requirements;
— conduct an audit and collect data in key sectors (municipal statistics);
— document key challenges and strengthen the municipality’s position through associations;
— engage with European partners and add practical value to partnerships;
— designate a person responsible for European integration within the municipality.
These are only some of the topics covered in the course — from understanding EU policies to practical experience from Poland, Romania, and Latvia.
👉 Registration is still open:
https://academy.cities4cities.eu/partnership4euintegration
The course “Municipal Partnerships for European Integration” was developed by Cities4Cities experts within the Polaris Programme: Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine