On April 14, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Program for the Development of Cross-Border Cooperation for 2021-2027. It is a strategic document aimed at developing border regions and expanding cooperation with Ukraine's neighbors on land and at sea: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and Turkey.

One of the priority areas determined in the document is Ukraine's participation in the implementation of the Danube Transnational Program and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Ukraine will chair from November 2021 to November 2022. According to Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, this is an important decision, as Ukraine has become the first non-EU country to chair the Strategy and will be responsible for priority areas of cooperation within the initiative.

In addition, the Action Plan for the implementation of the program provides for Ukraine's involvement in shaping the policy of the European Green Deal.

"The Strategic Cross-Border Cooperation Program we have approved sets out the goal of synchronizing policies with the European Green Deal. After all, this is a priority of the Government, so we will include the goals of green transformation in regional plans. Undoubtedly, our strategic objective is to improve living conditions in the border regions of Ukraine, in particular through raising environmental standards, creating green jobs and attracting investment," said Olha Stefanishyna.

The Strategy of Cross-Border Cooperation also provides for Ukraine's access to the EU structural funds. Therefore, the objective for public authorities is to attract funding for regional development through international technical assistance and cross-border cooperation programs under the European Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)".