On March 18, the U-LEAD with Europe - Team Europe Initiative supported by the EU and its Member States - Germany, Denmark, France, Poland, and Slovenia - in partnership with the Government of Ukraine, is officially launching Phase III.
This high-level event will bring together key decision-makers from the Ukrainian government, international partners, local authorities, and civil society to discuss the future of decentralization reform, recovery, and reconstruction in the context of Ukraine’s EU integration and further development and prosperity of Ukrainian municipalities.
With a strong financial commitment of 62 million euros, Phase III will run until the end of 2027. Its primary focus is to strengthen local self-government and promote a resilient recovery at the municipal and regional levels, ensuring that Ukrainian municipalities are empowered and well-prepared for European integration.
**Media representatives are warmly invited to attend**
**What?**
Launch event U-LEAD with Europe phase III
**Where?**
Intercontinental Hotel (2a Velyka Zhytomyrska str.,Kyiv)
**When?**
March 18, 2025, 10:30 – 16:00 (Registration starts at 09:30)
12:45 - 13:45 - meeting with press
**Participants:**
* Katarína Mathernová, EU Ambassador
* Martin Jäger, Ambassador of Germany
* Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, Ambassador of Denmark
* Piotr Łukasiewicz, Ambassador of Poland
* Mateja Prevolšek, Ambassador of Slovenia
* Sébastien Surun, Deputy Ambassador of France to Ukraine
* Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Communities and Territories Development
* Bastian Veigel, U-LEAD with Europe
English and Ukrainian are the working languages. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.
**Media accreditation is required and will be closed on March 17, 2 pm. Please contact Yulianna Velbovets, Head of Communication by U-LEAD, via** [**yulianna.velbovets@giz.de**](mailto:yulianna.velbovets@giz.de) or at + 38 067 137-29-20 for accreditation.
**Background information**: U-LEAD with Europe is a multi-donor action of the EU, Germany, Denmark, France, Poland and Slovenia that supports decentralisation reform, recovery and development on municipal level to ensure that the needs of the population affected by the war are met and that Ukraine is well-prepared for the EU Accession.