Initially, the conference in Lugano had been planned as the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference – an annual high-level political event. It would have been in continuation of four previous editions of the conference held in the UK, Canada, Denmark and Lithuania that allowed Ukraine to highlight its reforms progress and discuss the next reform priorities. Against the backdrop of the full-scale Russian war against Ukraine since 24 February, 2022, Ukraine and Switzerland have jointly decided to proceed with the organization of the conference, but to refocus the priorities on a topic that is more relevant to Ukraine in the current situation.
The conference in Lugano was renamed the Ukraine Recovery Conference and w beyond reforms to concentrate on recovery. Lugano w unique opportunity for Ukraine to share its Recovery Plan and engage with the international partners to develop the best possible response to the enormous challenges lying ahead.
Ukraine and Switzerland initiated in Lugano a broad-based political process for the recovery of Ukraine. URC2022 was the international kick-off for the recovery process in Ukraine.
Recovery is a massive task and poses challenges of a magnitude that cannot be precisely measured at this point. However, the scale of response and resources needed can already be anticipated. To help the country recover and seize the opportunity to transform it, we need to pursue close coordination and be prepared to fully devote ourselves to implementation when the time will come.
The two-day conference in Switzerland was attended by over 1000 people, including 5 heads of state and government, 23 ministers and 16 deputy ministers. Switzerland was represented by President Cassis, Federal Councillor Sommaruga as well as National Council President Kälin and other parliamentarians. The 90-strong Ukrainian delegation was led by Prime Minister Shmyhal and Speaker of the Parliament Stefanchuk, as well as another 7 ministers. A total of 58 international delegations (representatives of governments and international organizations) participated and supported Ukraine in launching the political process of recovery.
The Recovery and Development Plan of Ukraine (within United 24 initiative of President Zelenskyy) and different contributions of international partners for the recovery of Ukraine.
The methods, priorities and principles of recovery.
Social, economic, environmental and infrastructure recovery from damages and losses caused by the war.
Reforms that are possible or necessary to implement in the current situation.
The conference stressed the necessity of an inclusive approach and application of the principle of shared responsibility during the recovery phase to ensure its success. The URC 2022 welcomed representatives from governments, international organizations, academia, think tanks, civil society and the private sector.
Demonstrate solidarity, including through funds and lasting commitment, to implement Ukraine’s Recovery and Development Plan, which is crucial for survival, compensation of massive damages and losses, reconstruction and to prevent a large-scale social and economic crisis in Ukraine;
Discuss Ukraine's recovery, strengthen partnerships and ensure their long-term success for the victory of democracy;
Apply a decentralized approach and patronages to support recovery of a specific city or region of Ukraine by partner countries and corporations.
Ukraine and Switzerland aimed to establish a recovery platform in Lugano: Shared responsibility and mutual accountability throughout the recovery process, and the reforms accompanying it, are just as important as earmarking the resources to enable recovery. Once done well, it will transform the country and modernize its economy. Ukrainian achievements and successful reforms before the war were crucial for Ukraine’s current resilience. Similarly, future reforms are instrumental for a successful recovery and Ukraine’s European aspirations.
The URC 2022 was complementary to initiatives in support of Ukraine that were already launched or announced and bring together friends of Ukraine standing with it at its darkest times.
In Lugano, Switzerland and Ukraine, with the support of their international partners, concluded the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2022) by presenting the Lugano Declaration. The document provides a framework for the political process of Ukraine reconstruction and sets out the Lugano Principles as common benchmarks for the future.
The Lugano Declaration can be found here
The presidents of Switzerland and Ukraine, the prime minister of Ukraine, representatives of international business in Ukraine and other players in Ukraine's investment and reform process discussed the reforms that are necessary to attract new foreign direct investment in Ukraine.
December 2021 – Ahead of the Ukraine Reform Conference (URC2022) in Lugano, the British Embassy Kyiv, the Office of National Investment Council, and Kinstellar hosted the first Business Decarbonisation Dialogue on 15 December 2021.
The Global Compact Networks Ukraine and Switzerland & Liechtenstein in conjunction with Ukraine Reform Conference organized the International Anti-Corruption Week
Press release, Embassy of Switzerland
to Ukraine
The preparatory process for the fifth Ukraine Reform Conference 2022 (URC 2022) was officially launched in Kyiv
On October 29th, at 10AM, the preparatory process for the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference 2022 to be held in Lugano (Switzerland), will be officially launched in Kyiv in Ukraine.
December 2021 – Ahead of the Ukraine Reform Conference (URC2022) in Lugano, the British Embassy Kyiv, the Office
of National Investment Council, and Kinstellar hosted the first Business Decarbonisation Dialogue on 15 December 2021.
The Global Compact Networks Ukraine and Switzerland & Liechtenstein
in conjunction with Ukraine Reform Conference organized the International Anti-Corruption Week
The presidents of Switzerland and Ukraine, the prime minister of Ukraine, representatives of international business in Ukraine and other players in Ukraine's investment and reform process discussed the reforms that are necessary to attract new foreign direct investment
in Ukraine.
On October 29th, at 10AM, the preparatory process for the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference 2022 (URC 2022)
to be held in Lugano (Switzerland), will
be officially launched in Kyiv.in Ukraine.
The presidents of Switzerland and Ukraine, the prime minister of Ukraine, representatives of international business in Ukraine and other players in Ukraine's investment and reform process discussed the reforms that are necessary to attract new foreign direct investment in Ukraine.
December 2021 – Ahead of the Ukraine Reform Conference (URC2022) in Lugano, the British Embassy Kyiv, the Office of National Investment Council, and Kinstellar hosted the first Business Decarbonisation Dialogue on 15 December 2021.
The Global Compact Networks Ukraine and Switzerland & Liechtenstein in conjunction with Ukraine Reform Conference organized the International Anti-Corruption Week
Press release, Embassy of Switzerland to Ukraine
The preparatory process for the fifth Ukraine Reform Conference 2022 (URC 2022) was officially launched in Kyiv
On October 29th, at 10AM, the preparatory process for the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference 2022 to be held in Lugano (Switzerland), will be officially launched in Kyiv in Ukraine.
On May 5 at 11:30 in Davos Platz, Switzerland, the International Diia Summit officially took place, the agenda of which was the question "What will be the future digital world?"
December 2021 – Ahead of the Ukraine Reform Conference (URC2022) in Lugano, the British Embassy Kyiv, the Office of National Investment Council, and Kinstellar hosted the first Business Decarbonisation Dialogue on 15 December 2021.
The Global Compact Networks Ukraine and Switzerland & Liechtenstein in conjunction with Ukraine Reform Conference organized the International Anti-Corruption Week
The presidents of Switzerland and Ukraine, the prime minister of Ukraine, representatives of international business in Ukraine and other players in Ukraine's investment and reform process discussed the reforms that are necessary to attract new foreign direct investment in Ukraine.
On October 29th, at 10AM, the preparatory process for the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference 2022 to be held in Lugano (Switzerland), will be officially launched in Kyiv in Ukraine.
The Ukraine Reform Conference (URC) takes place once a year and provides an annual overview of reform developments. The goal of the URC is for Ukraine to present the progress it has made, for international partners to express support, and for all stakeholders to examine what steps to take next to advance the reform process.
The long-term success of reforms in Ukraine depends on the broad engagement and shared responsibility among the Government, local self-government bodies, businesses, academic community, civil society, media and residents themselves.
Why is Switzerland co-hosting the URC in 2022? Switzerland is a long-standing partner of Ukraine in political, economic, financial and cultural spheres. More than 25 years of development cooperation in support of Ukraine’s transformation have become important building blocks for the ambitious and comprehensive reform agenda launched after the ‘Revolution of Dignity’ in 2014. To continue and reinforce its engagement in favour of stability and prosperity in Ukraine through reforms, Switzerland has decided to co-host the URC 2022 in partnership with the Ukrainian government
Before the war, Switzerland and Ukraine have agreed that the next URC 2022 should focus on a limited number of reform streams, grouped in the two themes Stability and Prosperity. Sub-themes will would have been addressed during the preparatory process at specific events in Ukraine and abroad by dedicated advisory groups and internationally recognised peers. These priorities will yet no longer be the focus of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2022.
The URC provides an opportunity to discuss ways to accelerate political, economic and social transformations. High-level participants reflect on the key reform results achieved and discuss future reform priorities for a stable and prosperous Ukraine.
Who participates in the URC process? Approximately 40 countries support the ongoing transition efforts in Ukraine through their participation in the URC process, in particular EU member states, the United States, Canada and Japan. Approximately 15 international organisations also support the Ukrainian authorities in their efforts to reform the country. Participation in the conference is, in principle, open to all actors willing to contribute to the political, economic and social reform process in Ukraine.
The URC has traditionally welcomed representatives of civil society, the private sector, participants from the academic world, as well as think tanks supporting reforms in Ukraine. Inclusiveness and a multi-stakeholder approach are particular features of the preparatory process and the conference.
Switzerland has the honour of co-hosting the fifth URC in Lugano on 45 July 2022. This milestone provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the key reform results achieved and discuss future reform priorities for a stable and prosperous Ukraine.
The focus goes beyond the traditional outside perspective of the Ukrainian reform agenda as it also adds an insider’s perspective on how Ukraine can best contribute to the region’s sustainable economic development and resilience. The conference is jointly organised by Ukraine and the host country.
The format of the URC has evolved over the years. One of its main features is the ‘On the road to...’ process with several preparatory events, the results of which are presented at the main conference.
In recent years, Ukraine has been steadily moving towards deep and structural reforms. The transformations taking place today in all key areas of state life are the foundation for qualitative changes in the medium term, the basis for improving the wellbeing and standard of living of the residents of Ukraine.
Structural modernization of the economy, tangible improvement of conditions for conducting business, an impetus for the development of domestic industry
Maximizing governance efficiency
is one of the Government's priority goals, and the reforms that are being implemented to achieve this goal are among the most important ones
Creating the necessary basic conditions for a comfortable and safe life, opportunities for implementation the potential of residents is one of the most important functions of the state
Formation of effective local self government bodies and organization of territorial authorities to create and maintain a full-fledged living environment for residents.
System response and security sector transformation. Each Ukrainian should feel safe and secure in their home country.
