A conference was held in the capital of Ukraine “Europe–Poland–Ukraine: Cooperate Together’26”, organized by Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP). The event was attended by representatives of state administration, local governments, businesses, the energy sector, and economic organizations from Poland and Ukraine. The main topics discussed were Ukraine’s integration with European Union, reconstruction of the country after the destruction of war, development of infrastructure and energy cooperation.
The conference took place on June 11 at the Hyatt Regency Kyiv hotel and was another installment of the program implemented by the Union of Polish Entrepreneurs (ZPP) since 2022. The initiative aims to build lasting economic relations between Poland, Ukraine, and European partners, and to create a space for discussions about the future reconstruction of Ukraine.
Integration with the European Union as a development opportunity
The event was opened by representatives of Polish and Ukrainian public institutions and business organizations. Guests included Piotr Łukasiewicz, Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Poland in Ukraine, representatives of the Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast administrations, the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
One of the main points of the program was the speech by Bartosz Marczuk from the Sobieski Institute, former vice-president of the Polish Development Fund. The expert spoke about Poland’s experiences with European integration and the economic benefits of EU membership.
This was followed by a panel discussion on Ukraine’s functioning within the European single market. Representatives of companies such as OLX Jobs Ukraine, Jooble, LPP Ukraine, Nova Global Whether Collar Company They highlighted both opportunities and barriers related to Ukraine’s economic integration with the European Union. The discussion was moderated by Dariusz Górczyński, president of the International Association of Polish Entrepreneurs in Ukraine.
Taras Kaczka: Ukraine’s path to the European Union
The conversation with Taras Kaczka, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, aroused great interest among the participants.
During the meeting, titled “Closer to the Union: Ukraine’s Path to the EU,” the importance of the accession process for Ukraine’s economy, investment climate, and future international cooperation was discussed. The discussion was moderated by Frontier Institute co-founder Yevhen Hlibovytskyi.
Participants emphasized that European integration is not only a political project, but also an impulse for economic reforms, increasing market transparency and attracting foreign investments.
Reconstruction of Ukraine and funds from the Ukraine Facility
One of the most important topics of the conference was the reconstruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure under the program Ukraine Facility, which is intended to support the modernization of the country and its preparation for future EU membership.
The panel devoted to this issue was attended by, among others:
– Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine,
– Jarosław Bełdowski, first vice-president of Kredobank,
– Olha Batova, CEO of EFI Group,
– Bartosz Wilk, President of Polimex Mostostal Ukraina,
– Viktor Dovhan, Regional Director of Budimex Ukraine.
Experts discussed practical experiences related to the implementation of infrastructure investments, financial and regulatory problems, and opportunities for international cooperation in the reconstruction of the country.
It has been repeatedly emphasized that the process of reconstruction of Ukraine may become one of the largest economic projects in Europe in the coming years.
Energy remains a strategic sector
The last panel of the conference was devoted to energy cooperation between Poland and Ukraine.
The discussion was attended by representatives of the largest energy companies and institutions responsible for Ukraine’s energy transformation, including:
– Hanna Zamaziejewa, Chairwoman of the State Agency of Ukraine for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving,
– Oleksiy Povolotsky from DTEK,
– Ihor Tynnyj from IVT Group,
– Mykhailo Bubnow from Schneider Electric,
– Władysław Sokołowski from the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine.
The participants discussed the reconstruction of energy infrastructure destroyed by Russian attacks, the development of renewable energy sources and the possibilities of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in the energy sector.
Two memoranda of understanding were signed
An important element of the event was the signing of two memoranda on economic cooperation.
The first agreement was concluded between the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers and the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The second memorandum was signed with the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine.
According to the organizers, the documents are intended to help develop business contacts, joint investment projects and further strengthen economic cooperation between Poland and Ukraine.
Business looks to the future
The conference demonstrated that, despite the ongoing war, Ukraine is already preparing for the next stage of its economic development. Integration with the European Union, infrastructure reconstruction, energy security, and cooperation with foreign investors remain among the country’s most important priorities.
At the same time, Polish companies and institutions are increasingly actively participating in the processes related to the reconstruction of Ukraine, treating this market as one of the key development directions in Central and Eastern Europe.
Source: Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP)
Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Nowiny Wschodnie, a news platform followed by more than 140,000 people on social media. A graduate in Journalism and Social Communication, he has been co-creating and developing Nowiny Wschodnie since 2017. He gained professional experience working with local and international media.
He specializes in fact-checking, countering disinformation and propaganda, and information security. His work focuses on Poland, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Polish-Ukrainian relations. He is also the founder of a non-profit organization working in the fields of integration and intercultural dialogue.
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