Within the framework of the project the “Covenant of Mayors-East” the EECU team organized the participation of mayors of Ukrainian cities in the annual signing, by European cities, of the Covenant of Mayors ceremonial event on the 29th of November in Brussels. 

This year’s celebration was very special for the Ukrainian delegation. For the first time, a mayor from outside the European Union, namely the Mayor of Dolyna (and EECU President), Mr. Volodymyr Garazd, was invited to take part in the panel discussion “Who leads European cities toward smart and sustainable development?” In a concise and informative speech, he informed the participants about the achievements of Ukrainian signatories of the Covenant, the issues that Ukrainian signatories have encountered, and their needs for assistance from the European community.

During the ceremony, which took place at the European Parliament, Mayor Garazd and the Mayor of Kryvyi Rih, Yuriy Vilkul, were personally greeted by the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek (who switched from his native Polish from English upon learning that the Ukrainian delegation was before him). Later Mayor Vilkul and the Mayor of Novohrad-Volynskyi, Volodymyr Zahryvyi, declared formally their willingness to join the Covenant. Subsequent friendly yet businesslike meetings of the Ukrainian delegation were held that also included the Director of the Association “Energy Cities”, Gerard Magnin, Mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava, Director of the Association of Moldova’s cities, Dorin Chirtoaka, and high level European officials. A joint dinner organized by the advisor of the Mayor of Bania Luka and CIM-expert Stefan Myroniuk included discussions around the potential for energy partnerships between the cities of Laktashi (Bosnia) and Dolyna, as well as about opportunities for the exchange of experience between Bosnian and Ukrainian cities in the field of energy efficiency and environmental protection. 

EECU President, Garazd found it to be a pleasant surprise to meet ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Borys Tarasiuk, on the plane on the return trip. Garazd informed Tarasiuk of the purpose of the visit of Ukrainian city mayors to Brussels, and about current activities and achievements of the Association.

The EECU team wishes to express its sincere thanks to Mayor Vilkul (Kryvyi Rih), Mayor Odarych (Cherkassy), Mayor Zahryvyi (Novohrad-Volynskyi), Mayor Simashkevych (Kamyanets-Podilskyi), Mayor Bakai (Berdyansk), Mayor Garazd (Dolyna), and other members of the delegation for taking time out of their busy schedules to take part in this symbolic international event. One can say with certainty that that the meetings and agreements reached in Brussels will become an additional impetus in the systematic work towards fulfillment of commitments undertaken during the signing the Covenant of Mayors.