On June 6, the Île-de-France Region reaffirmed its solidarity with Ukraine at the International Summit of Cities and Regions, held in Kyiv, with the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts, focused on training Ukrainian local officials in the management of European funds.
Represented by Cédric Guillon-Lavocat, architect of the regional international cooperation strategy, and Grégoire de Lasteyrie, the Region upheld the values of reconstruction and territorial solidarity, which have been at the heart of its commitment since the beginning of the war.
Since 2022, the Île-de-France region has been one of the main French communities to have mobilized. This strong commitment was notably demonstrated by the visit to Ukraine of Valérie Pécresse, one of the first French political leaders to travel there in the early months of the Russian aggression, thus demonstrating her support on the ground.
With the support of the entire regional executive, and in particular Geoffroy Didier and Anne-Louise Mesadieu, the Île-de-France region launched a rapid, humane, and structured response to immediate needs.
More than €2 million in emergency aid was approved to address essential needs, including:
– Humanitarian aid
– Support for businesses
– Shipments of equipment (generators, school furniture, heaters, digital tablets for high schools, etc.)
– Psychological support for children and refugees
In March 2024, the region reiterated its support by announcing €560,000 in aid. On June 25, the Île-de-France Region inaugurated its office in Kyiv, hosted by Expertise France, marking a new milestone in its commitment to Ukraine.
The ceremony was attended by Gael Veyssiere, French Ambassador to Ukraine, Mykyta Geraschenko (Kyiv Oblast), Lesya Kozachok (Chernihiv Oblast), Axelle Nos (AFD Ukraine), Sofiya Oliynyk, Director of Expertise France Ukraine, and her teams, as well as Stéphane Beaudet, Cédric Guillon-Lavocat, and Etienne Arjakovsky for the Île-de-France region.
On this occasion, the Region officially launched the Kalyna project, an ambitious training program in European fund management. This project aims to support Ukraine on its path to European integration by preparing local stakeholders for the requirements of transparency, efficiency, and management of European funding.
This cooperative dynamic also extends to the local level, with the establishment of 14 partnerships between municipalities in the Île-de-France region and their Ukrainian counterparts, some of which have received support through the #MistoMatch program, fostering the exchange of best practices, grassroots solidarity, and the building of lasting ties between communities.
