Within the framework of the ongoing “Ukraine Recovery Conference” (URC) in Rome, AICS Director Marco Rusconi signed two agreements with the Director of the Central Institute for Restoration Luigi Oliva and with the Deputy Vice-Rector of the University of Perugia Fausto Elisei.
The agreements regulate the relationships underlying two projects of the Italian Cooperation, approved by the Joint Committee on June 12, 2025, with a total value of over 12 million euros, which will support the reconstruction and enhancement of the cultural heritage of Odessa and the creation of new jobs in the cultural sector.
In particular, the initiative “Development of an integrated and sustainable system for the management of the heritage of the city of Odessa,” with funding of 9.5 million euros and a duration of 36 months, has the University of Perugia as lead entity and the University of Genoa as partner.
The second initiative, “Promoting culture and education as a source of new jobs,” provides funding of 3 million euros for a duration of 36 months and is implemented by the Central Institute for Restoration (ICR).
During the URC, a high-level panel also took place, to which the Agency contributed, bringing together representatives of the Ukrainian Government, international donors, the UN, and civil society to discuss the integration between humanitarian assistance, development, and stabilization through a coordinated approach oriented to the integrated “nexus” within sectoral and local frameworks.
On the sidelines of the Conference, a meeting of the Italy-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Group was also held at Montecitorio, promoted by the Vice President of the Chamber Giorgio Mulè, with the participation of Pietro Pipi, Head of the AICS Office in Kyiv.
For the 2025–2027 period, the Italian Cooperation has so far allocated over 452 million euros to support Ukraine in various key sectors: energy, health, emergency, transport, culture, rural development, governance, and humanitarian funds. Among the most significant initiatives followed by AICS Kyiv are emergency programs for refugees and displaced persons. The support also includes projects for veterans and war-disabled persons, demining programs, governance strengthening, and improvement of irrigation infrastructure in Odessa.
