First bilateral Italy–Ukraine technical and institutional round table opens in Rome
Римська декларація / Carta di Roma 2026#Main events
On the initiative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, a permanent instrument for coordinating culture, education and territorial cooperation is being set up in Rome, in the “David Sassoli” hall of Esperienza Europa, in line with the “Carta di Roma 2026” and the outcomes of the international URC conferences.
ROME, 1 July 2026 – Today in Rome, from 10:30 to 13:00, the first bilateral Italy–Ukraine technical and institutional round table (Tavolo tecnico-istituzionale bilaterale Italia–Ucraina) officially begins its work in the conference hall of Esperienza Europa – David Sassoli (Piazza Venezia 6).
The initiative, organised as an in-person working session, was prepared by CNAUI – Congresso Nazionale delle associazioni ucraine in Italia APS in close cooperation with the European Parliament Office, under the patronage of the European Commission Representation in Italy and with the participation of the Embassy of Ukraine.
Participants
- Carlo Corazza — Director of the European Parliament Office in Italy
- Vito Borrelli — Adviser for Cultural Relations, European Commission Representation in Italy
- Pierluigi Sanna — Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital (responsible for the NRRP, European projects and local authorities)
- Marco Pacciotti — Office of the Mayor of Rome
- Giuseppe Soriero — President of the Association of Former Members of Parliament of the Republic (Montecitorio); Honorary President of the Conference of Academy Presidents
- Stefania Mancuso — President of the Academy of Fine Arts of Catanzaro; President of the Scientific Committee of the International Culture Foundation (ICF)
- Antonio Passa — President of the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara
- Luca Saraceno — Head of European and National Project Planning, Municipality of Pescara
- Stella Maresca Riccardi — curator and expert in visual arts communication and marketing
- Maurizio Colace — coordinator of the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project
- Serhii Shevchuk — First Secretary, Embassy of Ukraine
- Lara Levchun — President of CNAUI
- Oksana Rohova — Vice-President of CNAUI, responsible for cooperation
- Nataliia Nevelenna — coordinator of the “Brotherhood Across Borders” project
- Olena Hromova — Technical Secretariat of the Italy–Ukraine European Dialogue Platform
Today’s meeting, which brings together 10 high-level technical and institutional representatives, is the logical next step in the systematic work the Congress has been carrying out since 2023.
The initiative is conceptually rooted in a decisive meeting with representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome in July 2025, where the diaspora was fully recognised as an active and structured player in the reconstruction.
This direction was consolidated and presented again only a few days ago at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, held in Gdańsk on 24 and 25 June.
Today’s round table is the operational follow-up to, and practical implementation of, the “Carta di Roma 2026” (Rome Charter 2026), signed on 28 April 2026 at the forum “Dialogo Europeo: Cultura. Cooperazione. Futuro”. To turn these strategic guidelines into day-to-day work, CNAUI has launched the Italy–Ukraine European Dialogue Platform: a coordinated, subsidiary way of working that aims to support and connect the diaspora, civic networks, universities and institutions of the two countries, without any overlap with the remit of ministries, embassies or consulates.
The action plan is built around three fundamental pillars: Culture (a space for memory and recognition), Education (the infrastructure of the future) and Cooperation (a method of civic diplomacy). These pillars underpin the Preliminary Operational Plan.
As of today, the Plan launches five pilot strands of activity:
- Permanent Technical and Institutional Round Table (Tavolo Tecnico-Istituzionale Permanente): to agree on, steer and validate shared bilateral priorities.
- Help Desk for Qualifications, Skills, Competences and Guidance (Sportello Titoli, Qualifiche, Competenze e Orientamento): to assist Ukrainian students and professionals in Italy and refer them to the competent authorities.
- Art, Memory and Cultural Diplomacy Programme (Programma Arte, Memoria e Diplomazia Culturale): to promote Ukrainian heritage and artists through events, residencies and national networks.
- “100×100 Plus” – Italy–Ukraine Education Network: an evolution of the successful transnational school project “100×100 Ponti dell’Istruzione”, focused on partnerships between schools, joint activities and the involvement of cultural mediators.
- Training for Reconstruction, Capacity Building and Territorial Cooperation (Formazione per la ricostruzione, Capacity Building e Cooperazione Territoriale): training modules on EU project design, digital technologies and local government, combined with direct support for partnerships and transnational twinning between regions and cities in Italy and Ukraine.
The Platform is being activated at a decisive moment in history, as support for Ukraine moves firmly from emergency mode to reconstruction planning, in step with Ukraine’s preparations for joining the European Union.
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