2026 in Gdańsk, the side event “From Rome to Gdańsk: the Cooperative Contribution to Ukraine’s Sustainable Recovery of Agri-Food and Energy Sectors towards EU Integration” took place. The event focused on the role of cooperatives in Ukraine’s recovery and the development of the agri-food and energy sectors as part of the country’s European integration process. It was organised by Rural Women Business Network, Cooperative Academy, SOCODEVI and the Minderoo Foundation, with the support of Cooperatives Europe, the National Cooperative Council of Poland (KRS) and Legacoop.
The event brought together representatives of public institutions, international organisations, cooperative networks, experts and agricultural producers from Ukraine, Poland, Canada, Australia and several other European countries. A notable feature of the event was the strong presence of women leaders and experts, reflecting the increasingly important role women play in Ukraine’s recovery and long-term economic development. The discussions explored how cooperatives can contribute to rebuilding local communities, strengthening economic resilience and fostering sustainable rural development. Speakers highlighted that the cooperative model has the potential to enhance the competitiveness of Ukraine’s agricultural sector, improve energy security and support the country’s transition towards a modern, sustainable economy aligned with European standards.
One of the central themes of the event was international cooperation in support of Ukrainian cooperatives and the opportunity to draw on the experience of international partners during the country’s recovery process. Participants also discussed the development of energy cooperatives and energy-efficiency solutions, support for small-scale agricultural producers, women entrepreneurs in rural areas and military veterans, as well as measures to facilitate access to European markets and help Ukrainian producers meet EU standards. Considerable attention was also given to building new international partnerships and joint initiatives supporting Ukraine’s sustainable recovery, as well as to the importance of cooperation between the public sector, cooperative organisations, businesses and international partners as one of the key drivers of the country’s successful reconstruction.
The event concluded with the presentation of the URC 2026 Cooperatives’ Declaration, which sets out concrete commitments by international partners to continue supporting the development of Ukraine’s cooperative sector and strengthen its role in the country’s economic recovery and integration with the European Union.
Following the presentations, participants had the opportunity to continue discussions during a networking session, which provided a platform for establishing new contacts and exchanging experience among representatives of organisations, institutions and companies involved in the development of the cooperative sector and Ukraine’s recovery. Representatives of PUBIH (Polish-Ukrainian Investment & Trade Office) also attended the event, using the opportunity to establish contacts with international organisations, as well as representatives of the agri-food, energy and cooperative sectors interested in developing partnerships supporting Ukraine’s sustainable development and reconstruction.
