On 17 February 2026, as part of the EU_LEAD project (EU Global Responsible Leadership: Climate Change, Environmental Protection and Humanitarian Aid) supported by the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet programme, a meeting of the EU for YOU Euroclub was held.
The thematic meeting was dedicated to the role of the European Union in the reconstruction of Ukraine – ‘The EU as a key partner in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine: insights and strategic priorities.’
The speaker at the event was Sofia Shutyak, a lawyer, deputy chair of the Committee on Agrarian, Land and Environmental Law of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, co-founder of the Centre for Economic and Legal Analysis NGO, and an expert at a number of civil society organisations working on sustainable development in Ukraine.
During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into the practical mechanisms of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the context of post-war recovery. The speaker emphasised that the reconstruction of Ukraine is not just a slogan, but a joint European project that already involves specific actions and financial instruments.
Sofia Shutyak introduced students to the European Commission’s website Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine, the latest results of the Munich Security Conference 2026 (13–15 February) on the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
The main points of the EU for YOU Euroclub meeting are as follows:
The Ukraine Facility is a special EU mechanism for 2024–2027 with a volume of up to €50 billion, which provides predictable and stable support to Ukraine against the backdrop of ongoing aggression and on the path to EU membership.
Reconstruction is based on the principle of ‘Build Back Better’ – with an emphasis on innovation, the best available technologies and sustainable development.
Ukraine is a full participant in the process: assistance is provided only at the request of the state, so it is extremely important to clearly formulate the needs and vision for its own recovery.
The strategic priorities outlined by Sofia Shutyak include: preserving the environment despite economic growth, developing human capital, introducing innovations and optimising all areas of life even in wartime.
Particular attention was paid to the importance of civil society in the recovery process. The speaker presented the activities of the European-Ukrainian Civil Society Platform, which is working on the sustainable and resilient recovery of Ukraine, and shared links to relevant developments and documents, including the platform’s strategic materials.
Participants actively joined the discussion, asking questions about Ukraine’s specific steps, the role of local communities, environmental challenges, and the need to combine economic growth with environmental protection.
Conclusions of the meeting within the framework of the EU for YOU Euroclub meeting:
Ukraine should not only receive assistance, but also be a reliable partner capable of clearly articulating its own vision of recovery, relying on its own strengths and implementing the best European practices today.
A total of 45 participants took part in the event, including international relations students, lecturers and members of the EU_LEAD team.
We would like to thank Sofia Shutyak for her informative presentation and all participants for their active discussion!
