The European Integration Hub, which will become an important platform for education, community development and setting up partnerships on the path to a European future, has recently been opened in Lviv. The hub is not just a space, but a spot where citizens of Lviv and internally displaced persons can obtain information about the European Union, learn how to work with EU grants, and find new opportunities for business, community and partnerships with European cities.

Katarina Mathernova, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, came to the opening of the European Integration Hub.

‘For me, opening a place like this is incredible because it is about people and for people. Here, local citizens and internally displaced Ukrainians, whom Lviv welcomed so warmly at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, will be able to make a difference. I believe that new partnerships between cities, countries, and communities will be born here,’ Katarina Mathernova said.

‘Last month we opened a UNESCO hub, and today we are opening a European Integration Hub. It is symbolic that all these significant events are taking place in the year when Lviv is the Youth Capital of Europe. Our task as a safer city today is to help all Ukrainian communities so that we can quickly enter the process of European integration. With this cooperation, we can establish new partnerships,’ said Andrii Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv.

The hub of about 200 square metres is located in the famous Levynskyi mansion, a local landmark. The building used to be home to the Dnister Insurance Company, one of the richest financial companies in Galicia. The house had an important symbolic meaning for the city, being a centre of Ukrainian culture and a popular meeting place for the community. Now, by creating the European Integration Hub, this space will be revitalised, turning into an important platform for public events and activities related to the integration of Ukraine into the European Union.

The renovation preserved all available historical elements, including paintings, parquet, and authentic stoves. The building has been made fully accessible to everyone: a lift for people with disabilities has been installed at the entrance, and an inclusive toilet has been installed to provide comfort for visitors with different needs.

The arrangement of the space, including restoration, renovation, furnishing and installation of technical equipment, was implemented with the partners’ financial support, which amounted to about UAH 5.5 million. Additionally, the city financed the installation of communications and accessibility elements from the city budget, at a cost of about UAH 1 million.

The project was implemented by the Lviv City Council and the Lviv Bureau of European Integration with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Charitable Foundation “Rokada”.

‘It is important that the European Integration Hub will become a space where internally displaced persons can establish new contacts, get information about available services in Lviv and the region, find social and economic opportunities and have support on their way to integration. This, in turn, will strengthen their capacity and ability to contribute to the development and European integration of Lviv,’ said Omed Ayub, Head of the Lviv Field Office of the UNHCR.

‘The building with a history that has survived the destruction attempts is now undergoing a revival – not only as a landmark, but also as a space of possibilities. The modern interior is combined with the preserved frescoes, reminding us that it is important to preserve the heritage, but it is equally important to create the future. New projects that will make a difference in the community will be developed here, taking into account the interests of both local citizens and internally displaced Ukrainians, making us all more united and closer to European values. And everyone who will visit this space will feel its special mission,’ added Nataliia Hurdzhii, Head of the Charitable Foundation “Rokada”.

The Lviv Bureau of European Integration has already announced the first events to be hosted at the hub. A workshop on EU programmes available to Ukraine will soon be held there, as well as a lecture on establishing cooperation with European cities.

‘This is the first hub of this kind in Ukraine. It is not about another building or a repair. It is about forming a community of European integrators in Lviv, a community that understands the EU values and jointly implements European standards in every sphere of our city’s life. It is also about advocating for the interests of local self-government in the process of European integration of Ukraine,’ says Olena Pavliuk, Head of the Lviv Bureau of European Integration.

She notes that the Bureau’s team has extensive experience in working with EU grants and setting up partnerships with European cities. In 2024 alone, they won 32 grants worth EUR 1 million jointly with Lviv City Council agencies and ranked third in the competition for the European Capital of Innovation. The hub will create a space for knowledge exchange, where Lviv citizens, internally displaced persons and organisations that have relocated to Lviv can learn how to apply for EU grants and establish partnerships with European cities. The hub will also be an important place for international partners and organisations looking for opportunities to collaborate with Ukrainian organisations.

Photos by Roman Baluk for Lviv City Council