Vitalii Bezhin meets with Themis Christophidou, Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy at the European Commission

Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine Vitalii Bezhin met with Themis Christophidou, Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy at the European Commission.

They discussed how to adapt European financing instruments to the needs of Ukrainian territories, which differ in security conditions and in their capacity to prepare projects.

The Ukrainian side presented an approach based on functional types of territories, with appropriate financing instruments and criteria for each. It proposed setting up a joint working group to develop the approach in line with EU requirements.

They also talked about JASPERS: help with project preparation can level the starting conditions.

They also addressed the future of EU cohesion policy in the 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework, including Ukraine's participation in Interreg programmes.

Equal rules do not always mean equal opportunities. The Ministry is working to make sure European cohesion policy takes this into account.