Memorandum of Cooperation, launched with the assistance of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, was signed on 03 September 2024 by Hjel Arne Hermansen, a Mayor of the Municipality of Drammen, and Borys Filatov, a City Mayor of Dnipro.

Ihor Holovchenko, a Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Ukraine to Norway also took part in the Memorandum signing ceremony.

‘The agreement we signed today is highly important, it provides a huge moral support. The cooperation as well as visits remind both politicians and the local population that the war is still ongoing. It is critical not to forget this. This war, like all the others, will definitely end. And then completely different prospects will open up for Ukraine. New goals, the key of which, will be economic prosperity and partnership with the European community’, said Borys Filatov during the ceremony held in the assembly room of the Drammen Town Hall.

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We are trying to do everything we can for Ukrainians, and I hope that this is confirmed. To establish contacts for more direct relations between the cities of Dnipro and Drammen is the most important thing in this visit. That is why I have invited representatives of both politics and business to the ceremony. You are welcome!’ said Hjel Arne Hermansen, signing the historic agreement. He also noted that the unity between the NATO countries is strong, and solidarity with Ukraine remains unwavering.

The visit will include a number of meetings between the Ukrainian delegation and local authorities, as well as visits to local healthcare and educational institutions, familiarisation with the work of the seaports, and an exchange of experience with local rescuers on algorithms for responding to emergency situations and under martial law.

The Memorandum signed in Norway is intended to consolidate strategic cooperation between the municipalities based on European values through the implementation of joint projects and development programmes in various fields - culture, sports, education, business, economy and improvement of local self-government.

The partnership between the two municipalities is systemic:

On 02 – 06 April 2024, the delegation of the Association of Ukrainian Cities visited Norway on a study visit,

On 30 May 2024, an online meeting of future partners took place; Oleksandr Sanzhara, Secretary of the Dnipro City Council, and Kjell Arne Hermansen, a Mayor of the Municipality of Drammen.

Cooperation between two municipalities began within the framework of the “Cross-border Cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia - CBC4US” project, implemented by the Association of Slovak Cities and Communities (ZMOS), the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), the Slovak-European Cultural Society FEMAN, and the Association of Ukrainian Cities.

To read the Ukrainian version of the article, please click the link.