New European Bauhaus program launched to boost Ukraine’s reconstruction

The European Commission announced the launch of a new program for Ukraine's regional development and recovery, the press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Culture and Information Policy announced. 

What is the problem?

During its full-fledged invasion, the russian army destroyed thousands of Ukrainian homes, in addition to hundreds of critical and energy infrastructure facilities that russian forces have consistently attacked with missiles and drones since October 2022, Rubryka reports.

What is the solution?

"The New European Bauhaus (NEB) program was launched to stimulate and assist local communities in implementing restoration and reconstruction projects," the ministry reports. "The program was developed at the initiative of Ukrainian partners such as Ro3kvit, ReThink, the Agreement of Mayors–East, and the European Council of Architects."

One of the program's directions is a holistic vision of sustainable post-war regional development. It will include finding solutions for optimal secondary use of materials and developing autonomous energy and other resources.

"We will reconstruct Ukraine. It is not only in our interest, but it is our moral duty. When we do it, let's do it in the right way. Let's do it in the spirit of the New European Bauhaus," said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her recent speech in Rome, adding that the most active participants are urban planners, architects, and engineers with the vision to turn the destruction caused by russia's war into opportunities to build a good and healthy future for Ukraine.

How does it work?

To implement the program, the organizers will hold a series of specialized webinars for local territorial communities in Ukraine starting in April.

Possible models will be presented:

• cooperation in reconstruction project implementation,
• ways of assessing the necessary resources,
• their distribution, financing, and involvement of the local population in project implementation.

During the targeted webinars, the participants will consider overcoming the problem of the inaccessibility of existing housing and the general conditions of providing housing in Ukraine.

The webinars will touch on different models of housing provision and the role that local municipalities can play, including solutions to social protection and urban planning.

Based on the results, the European Commission and Ukrainian partners will develop further measures within the framework of projects for Ukraine's reconstruction with the support of the entire New European Bauhaus community.

Reference

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is an ecological, economic, and cultural project launched by the President of the European Commission in 2020.

It focuses on developing local communities and the practical implementation of the goals of the European Green Deal.

Currently, the NEB unites more than 1,000 members, institutions, and organizations operating in all EU countries and beyond.