Ukraine continues to systematically implement the reform of the cultural sector and the Culture Development Strategy through 2030 — from modernizing governance to strengthening cultural heritage and supporting the media.
On 19 November, First Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Galyna Grygorenko held a meeting with representatives of the European Union — Asier Santillán, Head of Section European Integration, Governance and Rule of Law, Civil Society at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, and Diana Wolski, Head of the European Integration, Culture, and National Minorities Sector.
Galyna Grygorenko noted that the Ministry has fulfilled on time the task outlined in Ukraine’s Plan for the Ukraine Facility — in March of this year, the Government developed and approved the Culture Development Strategy until 2030. Alongside the Strategy, an operational plan for its implementation for 2025–2027 was approved. She emphasized that the key objectives of the document are to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage, provide cultural institutions with greater autonomy, and introduce a modern funding model.
The First Deputy Minister stressed that the Ministry is actively working to transition from outdated management practices to a system that best meets the needs of communities while stimulating their development.
Speaking about international support, Galyna Grygorenko highlighted the key initiatives the Ministry’s team is working on: the Cultural Resilience Alliance, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, and the CuRe Cultural Recovery Platform.
Asier Santillán Luzuriaga reaffirmed the importance of culture in Ukraine’s European integration process.
The parties also discussed EU support for Ukraine’s media sector. Galyna Grygorenko expressed her gratitude for the European Union’s contribution to supporting independent media in Ukraine, including the €10 million allocated in March, as well as three newly announced projects under the “Donbas Media Forum” with a total budget of €6.6 million, aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s independent media sector. She emphasized that supporting local and independent media remains one of the Ministry’s key priorities.
The new initiatives are designed to address the urgent needs of media professionals working under wartime conditions, enhance their safety and resilience, and support Ukraine’s continued path toward EU integration.
