Department of International Cooperation

16 January

On 16 January 2026 Bari hosted an international forum attended by the state administration and representatives of the city of Odesa, the Municipality of Bari, the Apulia Region, the Port of Bari and the Ukrainian community in Italy

30 March

On 30 March 2026 Reggio Calabria hosted the official presentation of the project “Living Language, Identity and the Future of Ukrainian Children”.

• As part of the project, the book series “Ukraine. Living Identity” has been launched and its first volume prepared: a basic grammar of Ukrainian as a heritage language, designed for children living in Italy.
• The project was initiated by the publishing house Leonida Edizioni (director: Domenico Polito). It is being carried out in partnership with the Ukrainian publishing house Bukrek, the association “National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy” and the association S.Me.Re.Ca APS, with the support of the Consul General of Ukraine in Naples, Maksym Kovalenko. The project coordinator is Maryna Vasyliuk.

28 April

On 28 April 2026 the University of Bari Aldo Moro hosted the international conference “Resilient Education: Practices of Intercultural Reconstruction between Italy and Ukraine”. The event was organised by the association “Uniti per l’Ucraina” APS–ETS in cooperation with the University of Bari Aldo Moro and Ukrainian partners.

7 March · Parliament of the Italian Republic

The conference “A Bridge for Ukraine’s Revival” was held in the Chamber of Deputies.

• Organisers: the associations ASSIMPRENDITORI and CNAUI.
• With the support and participation of Luciano Ciocchetti, member of the Parliament of the Italian Republic and Vice-President of the Social Affairs Committee, and of representatives from Ukraine. Rivne Regional State Administration: represented by the Deputy Head of the Regional Military Administration, Ihor Pavlenko. Ternopil Regional State Administration: represented by the Deputy Head of the Regional Military Administration, Pavlo Zhurba. Representatives of the Zaporizhzhia and Odesa Oblasts were also present.

9 July · Rome, Italy

The “Ukraine – Italy” Local Government Forum took place — a major event held as part of the international Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC2025). The forum was organised on the initiative of the international movement “Friends of Ukraine”, in partnership with the NGO “Dobrobat” and with the support of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy.

• The aim of the event was to create a lasting platform for sharing experience in:
• – local self-government,
• – the recovery of hromadas (communities),
• – attracting investment,
• – inter-municipal cooperation,
• – cultural dialogue between communities in Ukraine and Italy.
• More than 100 delegations of Ukrainian and Italian municipalities took part in the forum, together with representatives of local authorities, heads of education departments, heads of regional military administrations, civil society organisations and international partners.
• During the Forum, memoranda of cooperation were signed between:
• – Erice (Sicily) ↔ Truskavets,
• – Trapani ↔ Nizhyn,
• – Silvi (Abruzzo) ↔ Trostianets.
• In addition, the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy concluded memoranda with 14 Ukrainian hromadas.

20–21 September · Trapani, Sicily, Italy

The International Local Government Forum “Ukraine–Italy”,

• organised by the association Sostieni Ucraina (president: Mario Fontana), a member of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, in cooperation with the CNAUI Department of International Cooperation and Ukrainian partners.
• Ten memoranda of cooperation were signed between towns in Sicily and Ukraine, among them:
• Valderice ↔ Novhorod-Siverskyi,
• San Vito Lo Capo ↔ Borzna,
• Campobello di Mazara ↔ Kholmy,
• Santa Ninfa ↔ Hatne,
• Paceco ↔ Bakhmach,
• Marsala ↔ Pryluky,
• Misiliscemi ↔ Sribne,
• Buseto Palizzolo ↔ Staryi Sambir.

10–12 November · Silvi, Italy

The International Cooperation Forum “Ukraine–Italy”

• At the forum held on 11 and 12 November in Silvi (Abruzzo region, Italy), organised by the association Gioia, a member of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, in cooperation with the CNAUI Department of International Cooperation and Ukrainian partners, a number of important partnership agreements were signed between Ukrainian and Italian municipalities.
• Partnership agreements were concluded by the following communities:
• Vasylkiv City Council and the town of Vacri
• Zaporizhzhia City Council and the town of Montesilvano
• Slavutych City Council and the town of Spoltore
• Romny City Council and the town of Giulianova
• Verkhnodniprovsk City Council and the town of Roseto degli Abruzzi
• Pereiaslav City Council and the town of Isola del Gran Sasso d’Italia
• Petrykivka – Rapino
• Pisochyn – Fara San Martino

20–21 November · Reggio Calabria, Italy

The tenth winter session of the international Xenia Book Fair, “Voices of the East and the Caucasus”, organised in cooperation with the publishing house Leonida Edizioni and the association S.Me.Re.Ca (president: Larysa Vatrych), a member of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, together with our partners from the Chernivtsi Regional Council and the Bukrek publishing house.

26–27 November · Bari, Italy

At the forum devoted to strengthening institutional, economic and cultural partnership, with a focus on reconstruction, twinning and sustainable development, held in Bari (Italy) and organised by the association Uniti per Ucraina (president: Oksana Rohova), a member of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, in cooperation with the CNAUI Department of International Cooperation and Ukrainian partners, a number of important partnership agreements were signed between Ukrainian and Italian municipalities.

• Partnership agreements were concluded by the following communities:
• Stryzhavka — Cassano
• Sokyriany — Mola di Bari
• Varash — Conversano
• Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi — Galatina
• Novoukrainka — Adelfia
• Stanyshivka — Monasterace
• Dunaivtsi — Cisternino

14 January · Ternopil – Rome

The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ternopil Regional State Administration.

• The document was signed by the Head of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration, Viacheslav Nehoda.

19 January · Rivne – Rome

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy and the Rivne Regional State Administration.

• The document was signed by the Head of the Regional State/Military Administration, Oleksandr Koval.

18 February · Brussels – European Parliament

The President of the Congress took part in the conference “The Faces of Russian Captivity”, organised by the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, the ECR Group in the European Parliament, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the European Policy Centre.

• A petition from the CNAUI Department of Strategic Communications calling for the release of the prisoners was handed over.

8 March · European Commission, Rome

A ceremony was held for the signing of memoranda between the Congress and:

• Pivdenne City Council (Odesa Oblast)
• Dniprorudne Military Administration
• Tokmak Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs “Potentsial”
• Charitable Foundation “UA Free”

10 March · Paliano, Italy

The Mayor of Paliano, Domenico Alfieri, received a Ukrainian delegation led by Pavlo Zhurba.

13 March · Truskavets – Rome

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by the Mayor of Truskavets, Andrii Kulchynskyi, and Honorary Board Member of the Congress Vadym Sydiachenko.

2–3 April · Rome

A cooperation protocol was signed between Manageritalia and the Congress to involve managers in Ukraine’s recovery. The document was signed by the President of Manageritalia, Marco Ballarè, and the Congress representative Edoardo Pagnini.

17 April · Regional Council of Campania, Italy

A meeting was held between representatives of:

• the Ternopil Regional State Administration – Andrii Chovhan
• the Congress – Larysa Levchun and Oksana Rohova
• the Bureau of the Regional Council of Campania – its member Fulvio Frezza

28 April · Rome

A meeting of representatives of the Ukrainian community with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Oleksii Chernyshov.

30 April · Chernivtsi – Rome

The Chair of the Chernivtsi Regional Council, Oleksii Boiko, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Congress.

4–6 May · Bukovel, Ukraine

A 12-strong Congress delegation (including 5 representatives of Italian public administrations) took part in the Friends of Ukraine Forum 2025, organised by its partners:

• UMEDA – the Ukrainian Municipal Economic Development Agency
• the Club of Mayors of Ukraine
• the NGO “Dobrobat”

5 May · Bukovel, Ukraine

The conference “The Role of the Diaspora in Ukraine’s Reconstruction”, a CNAUI panel at the Friends of Ukraine Forum 2025

• Partnership memoranda were signed between the Congress and:
• the Club of Mayors of Ukraine
• the organisation “Dobrobat”
• the UMEDA agency
• mayors of Ukrainian cities
• 📅 6 May Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
• An official meeting in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and the signing of a memorandum of cooperation (awaiting ratification by the head of the region).
• 📅 6 May Bukovel, Ukraine
• A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration
• 📅 22 May Vinnytsia – Rome
• A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with:
• – the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration,
• – the Vinnytsia Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
• – the charitable organisation “Berehynia Krainy”
• The document was signed by:
• – Andrii Kavunets, Deputy Head of the Regional Military Administration for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation (CDTO).
• – Stepan Lypkan, Vice-President of the Vinnytsia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• – Olena Med, co-founder of the “Berehynia Krainy” foundation.
• 📅 26 May Calabria, Italy
• A meeting with the Mayor of Soverato, Dr Daniele Vacca, and an agreement on twinning with the town of Yaremche.
• Present at the meeting:
• Stanislav Shevchenko, president of the association Svitanok
• Bohdana Palermo, president of the association Solomia
• Maryna Feokhari, president of the association Kolos
• Lara Levchun, President of CNAUI
• 📅 26 May Milan
• CNAUI was represented at “Business&Entertainment”, organised by our partners, the business association “Assimprenditori”. The delegate was the Milan association SupportUAchildren APS, through its president Zhanna Cherneha.
• 📅 28 May Kyiv, Ukraine
• Vadym Sydiachenko, representative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, took part in the Fifth World Business Forum of the Ukrainian Diaspora, “The Global Ukrainian Community in Times of Challenge – The Diaspora for Ukraine”, held in hybrid format at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine.
• On the third panel, Vadym Sydiachenko presented the work of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy.

25 May – 2 June · Mondragone, Italy

A delegation from the town of Lanivtsi (Ternopil Oblast) was on a working visit to the Italian Republic at the invitation of CNAUI.

• On 30.05.25 the Mayor of Lanivtsi, Roman Kaznovetskyi, signed a letter of intent to cooperate with the Mayor of Mondragone, Francesco Lavanga.

28 May · Kyiv, Ukraine

Vadym Sydiachenko, representative of CNAUI, took part in the 5th Diaspora Forum, “The Global Ukrainian Community in Times of Challenge – The Diaspora for Ukraine”, organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine with the support of the programme “Development-Oriented Migration Management” (MEG) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

12–13 June · Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

Vadym Sydiachenko, representative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI), took part in the Parliamentary Forum-Dialogue “Ukrainians Abroad: Challenges, Support and Return”, where he presented the work of CNAUI.

17 June · Kyiv, Ukraine

Vadym Sydiachenko, representative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI), took part in the National Forum “Human Capital Dimension at the URC 2025. Focusing on Return and Recovery”, organised by the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine with the support of the Stabilization Support Services foundation and the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine (UNHCR), hosted by the Economic Recovery Centre.

9 July · Rome, Italy

We organised and held the Forum of Ukrainian Lawyers “Acting for the Future: Building Bridges from Italy to Ukraine”

10 July · Rome, Italy

URC 2025

• Eight CNAUI representatives, all of them association presidents, took part in the Conference.
• The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine held the panel “Culture and Tourism: Catalysts of Ukraine’s Recovery”.
• At the Ministry’s invitation, the Recovery and Development Agency, together with the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, took part in building partnerships between Ukrainian and Italian communities and presented its vision of the role of culture in local recovery. As a result, CNAUI initiated 5 new cultural partnerships
• Kherson ↔ Colleferro
• Novovolynsk ↔ Paliano
• Boryslav ↔ Atri
• Mena ↔ Silvi
• Poltava ↔ Monasterace

11 July · Rome, Italy

The key outcome of the second day of URC 2025 was the signing of a number of international agreements between cities that have signed Memoranda with CNAUI:

• Dniprorudne ↔ Bari in the Apulia region.
• Bar ↔ Bari in the Apulia region.
• The Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration, together with the Vinnytsia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the charitable organisation “International Charitable Foundation ‘Berehynia Krainy’”, ratified the Memorandum of Cooperation with the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy to help develop cooperation with the Italian Republic.

23 July · Italy, Ukraine

We initiated the interstate live link-up “Zemliatstva of Unity 99+1”, which brought Ukraine and Italy together to deepen inter-municipal partnership.

• 90 representatives of Ukrainian public administration bodies took part.

24 July · Soverato, Italy

Thanks to an initiative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, a significant meeting took place in Soverato between the Mayor of Soverato, Dr Daniele Vacca, and the Mayor of the Ukrainian town of Yaremche, Mr Andrii Myroniak. The mayors signed a letter of intent.

14 August · Agnone, Molise, Italy

Thanks to an initiative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, a cooperation agreement was signed in Agnone between the Mayor, Dr Daniele Saia, and the Mayor of the Ukrainian town of Kremenets, Mr Andrii Smahliuk.

31 August · Rome – Kyiv

Launch of the international education project “100×100: Bridges of Education”, initiated by CNAUI.

• The 2nd teachers’ forum, organised by the CNAUI Department of Education (head: T. Hryhorska)
• More than 240 Ukrainian schools have joined the project and are forming partnerships with Italian schools.

13–15 October · Brussels

A delegation of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy took part in the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC 2025) in Brussels — one of the most important European forums devoted to regional policy, partnership and cooperation between European communities.

7 November · Sambir, Ukraine

A memorandum of cooperation was concluded between the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy and the All-Ukrainian civil society organisation “Association of Ukrainian Lawyers”.

• The document was signed by V. V. Kostytskyi, Head of the Association of Ukrainian Lawyers, and Mario Fontana, president of the association Sostieni Ucraina, a member of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy

19 November · Rome, Italy

The European Parliament Office in Italy, together with

• the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy APS,
• held the interactive forum “Save the Children – Save the Future”,
• devoted to World Children’s Day, attended by representatives of Italian and Ukrainian institutions, including more than a hundred representatives of Ukrainian territorial communities and regional military administrations and more than 300 Ukrainian and Italian schools that joined online
• We held the campaign “Letters of Dreams of Peace”

20 November · Italy

A joint online lesson for 30 Ukrainian and Italian schools as part of the international education project “100×100: Bridges of Education”.

27 November · Bari, Italy

A memorandum of cooperation was concluded between the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy and the All-Ukrainian public organisation of persons with disabilities “Human Rights Union of Persons with Disabilities”

• The document was signed by the organisation’s Head, Oleksandr Vozniuk, and CNAUI President Lara Levchun

10 December · Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Khmelnytskyi Regional Military Administration

10 December · Brussels

CNAUI presents the project “100×100: Bridges of Education” at the International Summit “Protecting Ukraine’s Children: Diplomacy, Law, Justice” in Brussels.

• The event will be held at the premises of the General Partner — the EESC – European Economic and Social Committee

29 December · Poltava, Ukraine

The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Poltava Regional Military Administration

• The document was signed by the Deputy Head of the Regional Military Administration, Anton Chubenko, and CNAUI Vice-President Oksana Rohova

16 May

A delegation of Ukrainian entrepreneurs took part in a meeting organised by the association Assimprenditori and the bank Fideuram: a review of inheritance and property matters, and how to handle business disputes.

29 May

Representatives of the Congress took part in a forum under the project “Application and Implementation of the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement in the Field of Trade / EU4Business: Competitiveness and Internationalisation of SMEs”, held during the International Business Days, which also hosted the Fourth Business Forum of the Ukrainian Diaspora. Following the event, we drew up a procedure for working with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine in preparation for the Recovery Conference in Italy in 2025.

3 July

Community delegates took part in a charity event in support of Ukraine in Naples, organised by the association of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps of Naples. Mr V. Sydiachenko, Honorary Member and representative of CNAUI in Ukraine, had the opportunity to brief Ambassador Plenipotentiary Ya. Melnyk and Consul General M. Kovalenko on the initiatives in preparation for the Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Italy in 2025.

24 July

A Memorandum of Cooperation was concluded with Assimprenditori, one of the largest and most influential business associations in Italy (almost 5,000 entrepreneurs).

26 August

We took part in the international meeting “Global Ukrainians Helping Ukraine”, held in Kyiv with the participation of the First Deputy Speaker O. Korniienko, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights D. Lubinets, the Ambassador-at-Large for Ukrainians Abroad M. Betsa and the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry H. Chyzhykov. With our active involvement, the meeting gave us even more energy and confidence and marked the starting point of the Congress. It was attended by Mr Vadym Sydiachenko, Honorary Board Member and coordinator of the economic activities of CNAUI.