Programme launched in Parliament debate
At the General Debate in the Catalan Parliament on Tuesday, President Salvador Illa announced the creation of the Programa Catalunya-Ucraïna, a coordinated initiative to expand Catalonia's contribution to Ukraine’s reconstruction. The programme will mobilise regional healthcare services, universities, research centres, local governments, civil society organisations, and economic actors. Illa made the announcement during his policy address, stating: "From our cities and towns we do not hear the sound of bombs, but the suffering and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people is also ours." The statement underscored Catalonia’s continued political and humanitarian alignment with Ukraine.
Direct engagement with Zelenski
The new programme builds on Illa’s recent visit to Kyiv on 3 September 2026, where he met President Volodímir Zelenski at the Presidential Office. During the 40-minute meeting, Illa reaffirmed Catalonia’s solidarity, condemned attacks on civilians, and expressed firm support for Ukraine’s EU accession. He also invited Zelenski to visit Barcelona, according to government sources. Zelenski acknowledged the meeting via social media, thanking Catalonia for its assistance and highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in Ukraine’s recovery.
"Defending themselves, they are defending us,"
Earlier in his trip, Illa had committed the Generalitat to further aid in energy, healthcare, and winter preparedness, as part of a broader support plan approved by the Catalan government in May 2026.
Regional partnerships formalised
During the same Kyiv visit, Illa signed cooperation agreements with the regional authorities of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv. These partnerships aim to facilitate knowledge exchange and practical support in municipal governance, infrastructure rebuilding, and public service resilience. The Diputació de Barcelona is already implementing a training and internship programme for Ukrainian municipal staff under this framework, supporting capacity-building in war-affected local administrations. Catalan health clusters, coordinated by Biocat, are also sharing expertise with Ukrainian counterparts, while the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) has welcomed Ukrainian researchers and academic staff.
Primary sources: eb.gencat.cat, Diputació de Barcelona. Reported by CatalunyaPress.es, elnacional.cat, elperiodico.com, europapress.es, David Expósito J, ara.cat, À. G, diplomacynews.com, open4business.com.ua, en.ara.cat, som.uvic-ucc.cat, biocat.cat, Europa Press Barcelona.
