Bridges of Trust
Bridges of Trust
Since March 2021, CEMR and its members have implemented the Bridges of Trust (BoT) project, fostering partnerships between Ukrainian and EU municipalities to support decentralization reforms and strengthen local self-government in Ukraine and Europe.
This project, delivered in collaboration with the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) and supported by the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, has become crucial for supporting the Ukrainian recovery efforts of municipalities devastated by the war.
National associations from EU countries play a vital role in these efforts. Through their participation over last year, 30 Ukrainian municipalities have formed partnerships with 30 EU municipalities, leading to 48 joint project proposals focused on critical areas such as water treatment, hospital reconstruction, waste management, and energy solutions.
Additionally, over 500 participants from participating municipalities have been trained on EU project design, funding programs, and the impact of EU accession on Ukrainian local governments, further strengthening the capacity for sustainable reconstruction efforts.
Interested in being part of the Bridges of Trust initiative?
Phase 1: From a project
2021–2022
2021–2022
Phase 2: To an initiative
2022–2024
2022–2024
Phase 3: To a community
2025–2027
2025–2027
Empowering municipalities in Ukraine and in the European Union through building municipal partnerships
At its outset, the pilot phase of BoT aimed to support Ukraine’s decentralisation reforms and enhance cooperation with EU peers by creating 10 partnerships between Ukrainian and EU municipalities in Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The focus was on mutual learning, capacity building, and reinforcing local self-government.
However, following the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, the initiative rapidly adapted to address urgent needs. The cities that were already matched under BoT provided immediate humanitarian assistance to their Ukrainian counterparts. Recognising the growing scale of needs and the potential of these partnerships, CEMR and its partners expanded the scope of BoT to actively support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction efforts, laying the groundwork for an ambitious second phase.
Key outcomes:
- 6 municipal partnerships established across 5 EU countries
- Immediate humanitarian assistance mobilised through municipal networks
- Launch of the 1st Solidarity Forum to coordinate municipal responses
- Initial assessment of EU–Ukraine municipal partnerships with strategic recommendations for future collaboration
Rebuilding Ukraine through partnerships with the EU municipalities
Building on the foundations laid during the pilot phase, the BoT project expanded significantly in scope and impact. Its central aim remained clear: to support Ukraine’s reconstruction through international municipal partnerships between Ukrainian and EU municipalities. In this phase, 30 additional Ukrainian municipalities were paired with peers from 10 EU countries. This stage combined hands-on cooperation — including expert exchange missions, study visits, and the co-creation of joint projects — with strong advocacy for local leadership in Ukraine’s recovery process. Together, Ukrainian and EU municipalities co-designed 48 joint project proposals, addressing critical priorities such as water supply systems, renewable energy, hospital reconstruction, and waste management.
CEMR played a key role in ensuring that the voice of local governments was heard on the international stage. It contributed to major policy debates at the Ukraine Recovery Conferences (URC) and actively supported the Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. To maintain momentum and broaden engagement, CEMR launched the Matchmaking Platform — a digital tool enabling Ukrainian and European municipalities to discover new partnership opportunities. At the same time, the project’s visibility helped bring forward powerful stories of resilience and cooperation, inspiring a growing movement of solidarity across Europe.
Key outcomes:
- 30 new municipal partnerships formed across 10 EU countries
- 30 expert exchange missions conducted to share knowledge and technical solutions
- 48 joint project concept proposals developed (water treatment, hospital reconstruction, waste management, renewable energy, and more)
- Active advocacy at international events and contribution to policy recommendations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference
- 7 Solidarity Forums fostering dialogue, peer learning, and coordinated actions
- Training and info sessions for 500+ municipal representatives on EU project design, funding, and accession-related reforms
- Launch of the CEMR Matchmaking Platform for building new partnerships and scaling collaboration opportunities
- Increased visibility highlighting inspiring joint actions between EU and Ukrainian municipalities
A European Coordination Hub Secretariat for International Partnerships: A Flagship Initiative for UA Recovery and Integration - Towards the Bridges of Trust Community
Building on the successes of the first two phases, the next phase of BoT initiative aspires to establish a European Coordination Hub Secretariat (ECHS) that further develops a community-driven network of municipalities and stakeholders across Europe. By leveraging the synergies between CEMR, LRGAs, AUC, and funded by U-LEAD with Europe, the European Hub seeks to:
- Increase the number of partnerships.
- Consolidate the partnerships and increase their impact.
- Improve visibility of partnerships at political and technical level.
- Establish/animate the BoT Community to better coordinate efforts of various actors and projects supporting Ukraine’s recovery and integration through international municipal cooperation.
With the ECHS, CEMR and its donors recognize the immense challenges UA municipalities face due to the ongoing war, the recovery needs, and the required scale of reconstruction. It underscores the importance of continuity and long-term commitments.
