On 31 May, Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, on the Ukrainian side, and Lívia Vašáková, Deputy Prime Minister for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Utilization of Eurofunds of the Slovak Republic, and Peter Balík, Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, on the Slovak side, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Slovak Republic and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation in preparing joint projects for EU programmes.

“We have extensive experience in implementing European integration reforms, experience in governing the country during the war. At the same time, we do not have much experience in matters related to the effective use of EU funds and access to financing. And this is an important element of our recovery and reconstruction – the issue of financial support that needs to be mobilised for Ukraine,” Olha Stefanishyna stressed.

The memorandum provides for the establishment of effective cooperation, communication and exchange of experience between the two countries in the preparation and implementation of joint projects under EU programmes or other programmes that will contribute to the deepening of bilateral relations and Ukraine’s further integration into the EU.

This refers to a number of EU programmes for a multi-year financial perspective for the period of 2021-2027.

Slovakia is the first country to establish this type of cooperation with Ukraine. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed the hope that the successful experience of joint projects with Slovakia would give impetus to the involvement of other countries.

“I am confident that through these projects of common interest, we will be able to expand the list of financial instruments to ensure the stability of the Ukrainian economy,” Olha Stefanishyna said.

The document also provides for the establishment of a joint Ukrainian-Slovak working group within the Joint Commission on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation to identify, prepare and develop joint projects. Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, is the co-chair of the Commission on the Ukrainian side.