Ukraine joins the EU civil protection system

The document was signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko and EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, and witnessed by the Vice Prime Minister for Eurean and Euro-Atlantic Integration ha Stefanishyna, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Read also: Zelensky, Rutte discuss situation on battlefield, military aid

The Eurean Union Civil Protection Mechanism is the world's largest system for providing international coordinated emergency assistance. It includes a variety of resources and forms of assistance from 28 member states and a number of EU candidate countries. Joining the EU Civil Protection Mechanism will allow Ukraine to make full use of all EU instruments and programs to devel its national civil protection system and attract assistance.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received more than 70,000 tons of aid from EU countries under the Civil Protection Mechanism, ranging from food to demining equipment and special equipment.

Ukraine received a roadmap to officially become part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the fall of 2022. The document outlined specific steps that Kyiv had to take before becoming a full member of the system.

In addition, during the summit, more than 10 agreements were concluded between the new twin cities, memoranda of coeration and understanding, statements of intent, and plans for further coeration were signed with a number of organizations from the Netherlands, Lithuania, Pand, the Czech Republic, France, and the United States.

During the event, the Declaration of the International Cities and Regions Summit was adted.

Read also: Denmark already provided over EUR 20M in aid for Mykaiv region reconstruction – Kim

The International Summit of Cities and Regions is a platform for deepening partnership, interaction and coeration at the level of Ukrainian and foreign municipalities. Its goal is to establish direct international communication between leaders and representatives of regions and communities from different countries; to devel ideas, potential joint social, economic, and humanitarian projects during Ukraine's integration into the Eurean Union.

The event was organized on the initiative and within the framework of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine.