How can regions make their voices heard in Europe?

On June 15–18, 2026, Viktoriia Letiuka, Head of the Office for European Integration and International Cooperation at the Khmelnytskyi Regional Development Agency, took part in a study visit to Brussels as part of the Polish Development Assistance project “Support for the Development of Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness in Ukrainian Regions—Continuation.”

The visit’s program focused on studying the mechanisms of the European Union’s regional policy, cohesion policy, support for regional development, and Ukraine’s European integration processes.

The participants visited key European institutions and held working meetings with representatives of:

• the European Parliament;
• the European Commission (DG ENEST);
• the Committee of the Regions;
• the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the EU;
• regional representations in Brussels;
• the Embassy of Ukraine to the European Union.

During the visit, particular attention was paid to issues related to representing the interests of regions within EU institutions, opportunities for attracting European resources for community development, as well as practical tools for Ukrainian regions to participate in European initiatives and programs.

Participating in such events not only allows for a deeper understanding of the principles behind European policy-making but also enables the establishment of new partnerships, the exchange of experiences with European colleagues, and the identification of new opportunities for the development of the Khmelnytskyi region.

We thank the organizers for the opportunity to engage in a professional dialogue on the future of Ukraine’s regional development and its integration into the European space.