Advancing local governance and EU integration in Eastern Partnership countries

The 4th Eastern Partnership (EaP) Cluster Meeting, co-hosted by PLATFORMA and SALAR on 6 March, brought together EU Polish Presidency representatives, key stakeholders from Eastern Partnership countries and EU member states. They assessed progress, coordinated development initiatives, and advocated for stronger local government involvement in the EU-EaP agenda.

Strengthening local democracy through SALAR’s engagement

SALAR — the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions — highlighted its long-standing commitment to local democracy. Through SALAR International, the organisation is actively engaged in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, promoting decentralisation, resilience, sustainable development, and inclusive governance.

Key initiatives include:

• Waste Management for Ukraine (WM4U) and the Polaris Program, supporting climate compliance, local recovery, and public service improvements.
• In Moldova, a Sida-funded program aims to align local public administrations with EU standards and strengthen digital governance.
• In Georgia, support programs remain under review following recent political developments.

Poland’s EU Presidency: prioritising regional empowerment

The Polish Presidency reaffirmed its strong support for Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia’s EU accession. Speaking on behalf of Poland, Marcin Chruściel and Marta Arendt outlined several key priorities:

• EU Accession Support: Poland is advocating for opening negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova and maintaining Georgia’s place on the EU track.
• Security Dimensions: Poland’s EU Presidency is shaped by seven pillars of security, underpinning its approach to cohesion and enlargement.
• Cohesion and Decentralisation: A decentralised model of EU fund management remains central to Poland’s vision for inclusive growth.

The Polish Presidency is also spearheading efforts to improve coordination of international aid for Ukraine and reinforcing local government participation in reconstruction efforts.

Capacity-building and knowledge exchange

Poland has launched targeted capacity-building programs for Ukraine and Moldova, including:

• Workshops, study visits, and training sessions for over 170 Ukrainian officials.
• Support for Moldovan public servants in regional policy and EU fund absorption.
• A suspended initiative in Georgia remains under evaluation amid political uncertainties.

Future EU Budget & enlargement: findings from the latest study presented by the Secretariat

A new study on adapting the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for enlargement outlines three scenarios—gradual integration, small bang, and big bang—and their budgetary impacts. The study underlines the need for flexible, well-communicated budget reforms to ensure that enlargement is financially viable and publicly supported.