One of the tools for achieving Ukraine's European integration aspirations is enhancing cross-border and interregional cooperation with geographically close countries of Central and Eastern Europe. In this context, we would like to note the special importance of Ukrainian-Polish relations, which are based on cultural and historical ties between the countries, as well as on the network of political, humanitarian, socio-economic and business contacts formed over the past decades. Enhancing cooperation involving Ukrainian and Polish communities and regions is also important in view of the current challenges faced by both countries, primarily the russian aggression against Ukraine.
These issues were discussed at an expert meeting held on the 27th of January 2025 in Uzhhorod with the participation of representatives of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Lviv - Vice Consul, Acting Consul for Political and Economic Affairs Krzysztof Lukianowicz, Development Assistance Specialist (Economic Affairs Department) Artur Grossman, as well as experts from the National Institute for Strategic Studies - Head of the Western Region Research Sector Volodymyr Khymynets and Leading Researcher of the Sector Golovka Anatoliy. The meeting was also attended by Yurii Frintsko, Head of the Uzhhorod District Council, Ganna Tsimbolynets, Director of the Zakarpattia Regional Development Agency, Mykola Palinchak, Dean of the Faculty of International Economic Relations of UzhNU, Yevhen Luksha, Head of the NGO ‘Association of Project Managers “Yadro”.
During the meeting, the prospects for expanding cross-border and interregional cooperation between the countries were discussed. In this context, it is worth noting that the Polish and Ukrainian border areas are covered by cross-border cooperation programmes, primarily Interreg NEXT Poland-Ukraine, which implements cross-border projects with the financial support of EU institutions. For example, in 2024, Zakarpattia oblast attracted about €4.5 million from the EU under this Programme to implement 6 development projects. In the same context, European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), the creation of which will promote the development of cooperation at the local level between Poland and Ukraine, can be considered one of the most promising and at the same time underutilised tools.
In general, cross-border and interregional cooperation between Ukraine and the EU countries, including Poland, should be seen as one of the tools to promote the development of communities and regions, address common economic, humanitarian and environmental problems by strengthening cooperation and coordination of joint actions, and attracting additional resources. At the same time, the implementation of such an instrument in practice is possible subject to a number of important measures:
Ensure systemic state support in terms of providing local budgets with subventions for co-financing of cross-border and international projects by the Ukrainian side.
Increasing the level of competence of local government and state authorities in project management.
Ensuring inclusiveness of cooperation and its professional support by engaging experts, project managers and a wide range of stakeholders - civil society organisations, local business representatives, educators, academics, etc.
In the context of relations between Poland and Ukraine, it is also worth noting that the development and expansion of border infrastructure will also contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation. The total length of the Ukrainian-Polish border is 535 kilometres, with 8 road and 6 railway border checkpoints. For comparison, the length of the Ukrainian-Slovak border is 97 kilometres, with 5 border checkpoints (2 road, 2 railway and one pedestrian); the length of the Ukrainian-Hungarian border is 136.7 kilometres, with 7 border checkpoints (5 road and 2 railway). It should be noted that 33.4 km of the border is in the Zakarpattia oblast, which borders Poland to the northwest. At the same time, there are no permanent border checkpoints on this section of the Ukrainian-Polish border (the temporary pedestrian crossing point ‘Lubnia-Wolosate’ was only operational during the Neighbourhood Days in 2019). Therefore, it is time to create new border checkpoints, as well as to expand and improve the existing ones. In addition, the development of border infrastructure will contribute to the formation of new centres of economic activity and the revival of business contacts between the areas adjacent to the Ukrainian-Polish border.
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