Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities 51st Session (Strasbourg, 28 October 2026)
As prepared for delivery
Madam President,
Minister Bezghin,
Distinguished members of the Congress,
I would like to begin by paying tribute to the extraordinary courage of the Ukrainian people, who continue to endure immense suffering. Russia’s war of aggression has taken countless lives, separated families and destroyed homes, hospitals, schools and livelihoods. Yet, in the face of these exceptionally difficult circumstances, Ukrainians are resolved to sustain their families, uphold their communities and defend the future of their country and our freedom too.
Ukraine must rebuild even as the aggression intensifies. Yet, true recovery can only begin in earnest when the fighting ends and a just and lasting peace is secured. The timing of that remains unknown. What we do know is that recovery is a task for the present, not just for the future. Indeed, it is already under way thanks to our joint efforts to safeguard the human, social and institutional foundations – the ultimate building blocks of peace and reconstruction.
Local and regional authorities play an indispensable role in these efforts. Across Ukraine, municipalities and regions continue to provide essential services, assist vulnerable people and preserve community life. They understand local circumstances, respond directly to people’s needs and help ensure that recovery efforts bring tangible improvements in their daily lives.
This is why the work of this Congress, by bringing together Europe’s local and regional elected representatives, is so important. You are closest to the situation on the ground, the challenges people face and the expectations they have of public institutions and policies.
No wonder that discussions at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk in June underscored the crucial role of this local dimension and reinforced a fundamental point: reconstructing Ukraine tomorrow requires sustaining the country’s society today.
The Council of Europe Development Bank, or CEB, is contributing to both these objectives: strengthening resilience now while laying the foundations for recovery.
We do this through social investment in the sectors that are at the centre of people’s lives, such as housing, healthcare and education. We do it by providing access to finance, notably for micro and small businesses, which are so vital for employment. And we do it by supporting internally displaced people.
These needs are deeply interconnected. Addressing them together strengthens resilience and lays the path to recovery. This comprehensive approach has been forged through the CEB’s own 70-year-long history.
Over seven decades, the CEB has invested more than €93 billion in over 2 300 projects supporting schools, hospitals, affordable housing, sustainable cities, skills, financial inclusion and employment. Throughout this experience, one lesson has remained constant: a durable recovery depends as much on people, institutions and communities as it does on physical infrastructure.
This lesson serves as a compass for the CEB’s engagement in Ukraine. Since 2023, when the country became a member, the Bank has approved more than €800 million in loans and over €32 million in grants and guarantees.
Housing accounts for most of this funding – around 60% of loan approvals. The needs are both immense and urgent. Through the HOME programme, more than 6 thousand families whose homes were destroyed have already received support to purchase their houses, while a further 3 thousand households are expected to benefit in the coming months. Complementary initiatives are also helping house internally displaced people and veterans.
In addition to housing, the Bank’s social response includes funding to restore primary healthcare, mental health and rehabilitation centres, while financing for small businesses and microenterprises is supporting jobs and livelihoods.
Together, these projects address the pressing needs created by the war while safeguarding Ukraine’s future recovery and prosperity. In short, resilience today for tomorrow’s full recovery.
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Distinguished members,
Three conclusions emerge from our experience. Recovery must be people-centred. Resilience and reconstruction must go hand in hand. And neither can succeed without strong partnerships.
This is particularly relevant here, in the Congress. Local and regional authorities are closest to people’s needs and are indispensable partners in translating social investment into tangible improvements in their daily lives, stronger communities and social cohesion.
Seventy years ago, the CEB was created to help Europeans rebuild their lives in the aftermath of war. That same purpose lies at the heart of our commitment to Ukraine today.
The scale of the challenge is immense, and no government or institution can meet it alone. By working together, under Ukrainian leadership, we can strengthen the foundations on which Ukraine’s future will be built, so that when a just and lasting peace is secured, inclusive communities can thrive.
Thank you.