LUGANO DECLARATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF UKRAINE

The Heads of State and Government, Ministers and high representatives of Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Republic of Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America as well as the highest officials and high representatives of the Council of Europe, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development,

1. fully commit to supporting Ukraine throughout its path from early to long-term recovery, and linking this to Ukraine’s European perspective and EU candidate country status;
2. encourage and welcome all commitments to provide coordinated political, financial and technical support to this end;
3. endorse the guiding principles for the recovery process (‘Lugano Principles’);
4. recognize the Ukraine-led draft of the Recovery and Development Plan as an overarching framework guiding the recovery process, allowing for coordinated multi-stakeholder participation and partnerships, and look forward to engaging on refining and implementing the plan;
5. recognize that the Recovery and Development Plan is a living document which will need to be consulted and adapted over time to reflect changing circumstances;
6. support the establishment of an effective coordination platform between the Government of Ukraine and all its bilateral as well as multilateral partners, organizations and international financial institutions for the preparation and implementation of Ukraine’s Recovery and Development Plan, building on existing structures and establishing a clear link with the broad reform agenda;
7. affirm that integrity, transparency and accountability are essential for the successful implementation of the National Recovery and Development Plan;
8. stress the importance of fair and transparent development finance, lending and borrowing practices in accordance with international rules, standards and recognized principles;
9. welcome innovative approaches to recovery, such as digital transformation, green energy transition, national and international innovative and sustainable financing, including harnessing possible reparations, contributions by private donors and the private sector;
10. invite the private sector, academia and civil society as well as actors at sub-national level, such as cities, hospitals and others, to enter into partnerships with Ukrainian counterparts;
11. welcome the concerted efforts to ensure a robust follow-up and engagement to Ukraine’s recovery process by international partners, such as the establishment of an international platform for Ukraine’s recovery and the initiative of the G7 Presidency to convene an international high-level experts conference;
12. welcome the offer of the United Kingdom to host the next conference.

Guiding Principles

1. Partnership:  The recovery process is led and driven by Ukraine and conducted in partnership with its international partners. The recovery effort has to be based on a sound and ongoing needs assessment process, aligned priorities, joint planning for results, accountability for financial flows, and effective coordination.
2. Reform focus:  The recovery process has to contribute to accelerating, deepening, broadening and achieving Ukraine’s reform efforts and resilience in line with Ukraine’s European path.
3. Transparency, accountability and rule of law:  The recovery process has to be transparent and accountable to the people of Ukraine. The rule of law must be systematically strengthened and corruption eradicated. All funding for recovery needs to be fair and transparent.
4. Democratic participation:  The recovery process has to be a whole-of-society effort, rooted in democratic participation by the population, including those displaced or returning from abroad, local self-governance and effective decentralization.
5. Multi-stakeholder engagement:  The recovery process has to facilitate collaboration between national and international actors, including from the private sector, civil society, academia and local government.
6. Gender equality and inclusion: The recovery process has to be inclusive and ensure gender equality and respect for human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. Recovery needs to benefit all, and no part of society should be left behind. Disparities need to be reduced.
7. Sustainability:  The recovery process has to rebuild Ukraine in a sustainable manner aligned with the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the Paris Agreement, integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions including green transition.