Today, a press conference dedicated to the role of communities in Ukraine’s reconstruction and the presentation of the “Shoulder to Shoulder: Cohesive Communities” model was held in the Oriana Fallaci Press Room at Palazzo Ferro Fini, the seat of the Legislative Assembly of Veneto. The event featured Regional Councillor Jacopo Maltauro (Forza Italia), Secretary General of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) Antonella Valmorbida, and the Mayor of Zugliano (Vicenza province) Sandro Maculan. The key topic of discussion was the partnership between the Italian municipalities of Zugliano and Thiene and the Ukrainian communities of Kalush and Yavornytska.
Regional Councillor Jacopo Maltauro stressed that Veneto seeks to take concrete steps alongside Ukraine’s path toward EU integration: “Veneto cannot intervene militarily, but it can do what it has done for centuries: build relationships, promote dialogue, and encourage exchange between communities. Reconstruction means not just erecting buildings, but also restoring skills, administrative capacity, and trust.”
Maltauro highlighted that the initiative of the municipalities of Zugliano and Thiene under the auspices of the EU sets a unique precedent for the region. He announced his intention to initiate the expansion of this cooperation across the entire Regional Council of Veneto: “For the first time, several Italian municipalities—specifically two in the Vicenza area, Zugliano and Thiene—are developing framework agreements with local Ukrainian communities under European auspices. This is a source of pride for our region and an incentive for the Veneto Region to step further.”
He expressed gratitude to ALDA, which has been operating in Ukraine for over a decade. “It is thanks to their work that our local administrators were able to build these relationships and turn solidarity into concrete cooperation. This achievement deserves recognition and value,” Maltauro noted.
In her report, ALDA Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida provided further details on the “Shoulder to Shoulder: Cohesive Communities” project: “The project is implemented by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, and as an Association, we serve as strategic partners. We aim to establish partnerships or twinning arrangements between cities in eastern and western Ukraine—one located on the frontline of the conflict with Russia, and the other further from the hotspot. Together, they work, exchange best practices, and build friendly relations between these two distinct parts of Ukrainian territory, helping to strengthen internal cohesion.”
According to Valmorbida, the project also involves European partners such as Zugliano and Thiene in the province of Vicenza, whose role strengthens these internal twinning ties through European presence. “This is a project we work hard on, deeply believe in, and regard as a form of genuine, concrete assistance, community-building, and peacebuilding for the future of Ukraine as well as Europe,” the ALDA Secretary General added.
With the support of ALDA, the municipalities of Zugliano and Thiene are preparing to host an official delegation of mayors from partner Ukrainian communities in October this year to exchange experience and develop joint projects.