ECR Group First Vice-President Władysław Ortyl represented the ECR Group at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC 2026) in Gdańsk, a high-level international gathering bringing together political leaders, international institutions, business representatives and local authorities to discuss Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term resilience. The conference was attended, among others, by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, underlining its strategic importance for Europe’s future.
As President of the Podkarpackie Region, one of the EU regions most directly involved in supporting Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ortyl has consistently stressed that local and regional authorities must play a central role in the reconstruction process.
“Ukraine’s recovery cannot be treated only as a national or international funding exercise. It must be delivered through regions, cities and local communities that understand the needs of citizens and can transform commitments into real results on the ground,” Ortyl said.
From housing and schools to transport links and energy resilience, local authorities will be responsible for implementing many of the projects that will determine the success of Ukraine’s recovery in the years ahead. Drawing on Podkarpackie’s experience as a frontline region supporting Ukraine through logistics, humanitarian assistance and cross-border cooperation, Ortyl highlighted the need to connect security, reconstruction and regional development.
At the same time, Vice-President Ortyl stressed that discussions on Ukraine's recovery must increasingly focus on practical implementation. While political solidarity remains essential, reconstruction efforts require concrete mechanisms capable of attracting investment, accelerating delivery and supporting long-term private-sector involvement. This includes improving access to financing, strengthening guarantees and risk-management instruments, and preparing bankable projects that can be delivered in cooperation with regions and local communities.
“With Ukraine’s immediate needs particularly acute in areas such as energy resilience, critical infrastructure and local public services, the conference is an important opportunity to move from commitments to tangible results,” Ortyl concluded.