On 24 October, Lviv hosted the second International Forum of Agglomerations, entitled ‘Agglomerations and Functional Territories: European Approaches and Their Implementation in Ukraine’. This major event, which focused on cooperation between communities and the implementation of European approaches to metropolitan governance in Ukraine, was organised by the Association ‘Lviv Agglomeration’ with the support of the Council of Europe.

The event gathered more than 120 participants, including representatives of communities, central government, parliament, academia, business, the international community, donors and civil society. Among those who took part in the forum were Ukrainian MPs Vitalii Bezgin, Oleh Dunda, Oleksandr Aliksiichuk and Viacheslav Rubliov; First Deputy Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration Andrii Hodyk, Mayor of Lviv Andrii Sadovyi; as well as representatives of the Council of Europe and municipalities of European metropolises – Riga, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Gothenburg and other cities.

During the discussions, participants talked about how Ukrainian agglomerations could become centres of sustainable development – ‘growth poles’ – while preserving the democratic principles of local self-government and ensuring effective interaction between communities. Particular attention was paid to the European experience of metropolitan governance and the practice of inter-municipal cooperation.

Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, noted, ‘Well-designed metropolitan frameworks can enhance both efficiency and democracy, making public services more coherent and ensuring that citizens retain a voice in shaping the development of their territories. When local authorities co-operate effectively, citizens benefit, trust in institutions grows, and democracy becomes stronger. We are happy to see the progress made in Lviv Agglomeration, with our support, and we stand ready to assist other metropolitan areas.’

‘Metropolitan governance is about building a culture of partnership, co-ordination, and democratic accountability. Such co-operation makes democracy more effective and development more sustainable’, emphasised Andrew Boff, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

Ukrainian metropolitan areas and functional territories are becoming key to the country's recovery and reconstruction. This approach leads to sustainable development, good governance, and strengthened local democracy in Ukraine. Working together enables communities to solve problems more effectively, improve the quality of services provided to residents, and strengthen trust in local authorities.

Andrii Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv, noted that it is the coordination of efforts between communities that will ensure the rapid development of regions, ‘During the war, we created an agglomeration, understanding that this is not just a responsibility – it is a necessity. Uniting in an agglomeration is the path to quality services for citizens and to cooperation that is noticed and supported by international partners. That is why I call on all communities in Ukraine to unite – together we are stronger.’

This Forum served as a platform for establishing a national dialogue on the role of metropolitan areas and functional territories in the recovery and development of Ukraine, as well as for discussing best practices in integrated planning and multi-level governance. The event contributed to strengthening cooperation between agglomerations and key stakeholders on the basis of transparency, subsidiarity and partnership.

Vitalii Bezgin, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, remarked, ‘Lviv is undoubtedly a leader in the process of forming agglomerations – the city knows how to unite and share best practices. In times of war, strong local self-government is just as important as the Armed Forces or the state hierarchy. Agglomerations are not hyperbole, but a real path to achieving stability, security and economic capacity of the state.’

The event was supported within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026 and the project “Strengthening multilevel governance and local democracy to support Ukraine's recovery”, implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.