From general interest in cooperation to the selection of a few feasible plans. That was the main thrust of the talks held on 30 June 2026 with the Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsinkiv, and Deputy Mayor Sviatoslav Nikorovych. Mayors of Slovakia, which connects municipalities with expert and project partners, took part in the talks on the Slovak side.
The city identified scope for cooperation in the school system, digital education and the development of vocational skills. The discussion was not limited to schools, however: the energy efficiency of public buildings, city data, the accessibility of services, healthcare, rehabilitation and the social resilience of communities were also raised.
Project plans are to be vetted first
Follow-up communication from the city confirmed its interest in preparing a joint portfolio of projects. The proposed approach includes setting up a coordination group, bringing in schools, universities and other institutions, writing brief project concepts and checking that they comply with the conditions of Interreg programmes or other European Union instruments.
The first working step is to be an online meeting and the selection of one or two priority initiatives. Only then will it be possible to determine the partners, the budget and a suitable call more precisely. This approach puts project readiness ahead of a quick but unverified commitment and gives international cooperation a concrete direction.