On September 4, during an official visit to Brussels, Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Tetyana Berezhna, and First Deputy Minister Galyna Grygorenko held a series of bilateral meetings with high-ranking officials of the European Union. Among them were Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education, Nela Riehl, and European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union in the field of culture as a key element in the country’s recovery, the preservation of national identity, and further European integration.
Tetyana Berezhna expressed her gratitude to EU institutions for their comprehensive support, particularly in the cultural sphere.
In this context, the initiative “Team Europe for Cultural Heritage in Ukraine” was highlighted. Launched in February 2025 during the “Cooperation for Resilience” conference in Uzhhorod, the initiative brings together the European Commission, EU Member States, and Ukrainian partners to preserve cultural heritage damaged by the war.
The Ukrainian delegation also presented initiatives launched during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2025), including the Cultural Resilience Alliance, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, and the launch of the CuRe (Culture for Recovery) platform.
Representatives of EU institutions commended Ukraine’s active engagement and noted the progress made in implementing initiatives aimed at enhancing cultural diplomacy and recovery efforts.
A particular focus of the meetings was Ukraine’s participation in the Creative Europe programme (2021–2027). Tetyana Berezhna emphasized that integration into Creative Europe is not only about expanding project opportunities, but also about recognizing Ukrainian culture as an integral part of the European cultural space. She also expressed appreciation to the European Commission for the additional €2 million in funding to support Ukrainian projects.
Tetyana Berezhna underscored the importance of more actively organizing Ukrainian cultural events — exhibitions, film screenings, and theater tours — across EU countries.
A separate part of the discussions was dedicated to supporting Lviv’s candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture 2030, which is seen as a significant step towards deeper cultural integration between Ukraine and the EU.
