URC2025. Culture and Tourism: Drivers of Ukraine’s Recovery
10 July 2025 — Rome, Italy. Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC2025)
Representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora took an active part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Rome. The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI) was represented by eight association presidents, who took part in public sessions, panels and negotiations aimed at establishing partnerships.
One of the key thematic sessions was the panel organised by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine: “Culture and Tourism: Drivers of Ukraine’s Recovery”. Representatives of the Recovery and Development Agency took part in the session together with the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy. They presented a vision of culture as a tool for strengthening local communities, preserving identity and developing international engagement.
The outcome was the launch of five new cultural partnerships between Ukrainian and Italian cities:
– Kherson ↔ Colleferro
– Novovolynsk ↔ Paliano
– Boryslav ↔ Atri
– Mena ↔ Silvi
– Poltava ↔ Monasterace
A new strategic initiative was presented at URC2025: the CuRe platform (Culture for Recovery), intended to act as a catalyst for integrating culture into Ukraine’s recovery process.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Anastasiia Bondar presented the concept of the Platform and its first educational pilot, the “Culture in Recovery” Community School, which will start this autumn. The initiative will help communities use cultural tools for transformation, cohesion and sustainable development.
CuRe is a multi-level platform that brings together state institutions, national and international partners, experts, local authorities, civil society and cultural organisations to work jointly on post-war recovery.
The first 16 Ukrainian territorial communities have already joined the platform, in partnership with the All-Ukrainian Association of Territorial Communities, the Association of Local Self-Government Bodies and the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities.
The CuRe platform is being delivered in cooperation with the Recovery Support Office, implemented with the participation of UNESCO and coordinated by the Ukraine Reform Support Fund, with support from the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine.
Statement by Lara Levchun
President of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI)
“The active participation of the Ukrainian diaspora in URC2025 is concrete evidence of our commitment to Ukraine’s revival. Culture is a bridge that unites us, and through these partnerships we aim to strengthen the ties between Ukrainian and Italian communities, promoting shared values and building the future together.”
Statement by Oksana Rohova
Vice-President of CNAUI and Coordinator of the Department of International Cooperation
“The CuRe platform is a strategic breakthrough: integrating culture into the recovery process means giving communities a voice, affirming local identity and creating space for dialogue. Our role as a diaspora is to be a bridge, a resource and an active force in the process of transformation.”
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