Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 rallies European cooperatives for reconstruction

The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, held in Gdańsk, Poland on 25–26 June, convened leaders of European cooperative movements to discuss the reconstruction of Ukraine after the Russian aggression. A side event organised by Italy’s Legacoop, the Rural Women Business Network, Cooperatives Europe, Canada’s Socodevi and Australia’s Minderoo focused on the role of cooperatives in agriculture, energy and social sectors. Speakers included Waldemar Bros, vice‑president of the Polish cooperative association KRS, Canadian ambassador Natalka Cmoc, and Agnieszka Maliszewska, vice‑president of Copa‑Cogeca, who addressed how cooperatives can drive resilient rebuilding and Ukraine’s integration with the EU. Participants presented a Commitment Chart to coordinate international cooperative efforts, highlighted support for Ukrainian cooperatives displaced by the conflict, and outlined plans to boost energy independence and job integration for veterans and civilians.

The conference, the fifth edition of the URC series, served as a key platform for mobilising investment and expertise in sectors most affected by the war, reinforcing the link between cooperative development and Ukraine’s long‑term economic transformation.