In May 2026, a delegation from Mykolaiv paid a working visit to its sister city, Aalborg, Denmark. The trip took place as part of the project “Establishment of a European Integration Office in the Mykolaiv Community,” implemented by the non-governmental organization “Center for Adult Learning and Education ‘Pivden’” in cooperation with the Mykolaiv Development Agency, with support from the U-LEAD with Europe program, funded by the European Union and its member states — Germany, Denmark, France, Austria, Poland, and Slovenia.
The delegation included Mykolaiv Deputy Mayor Serhiy Korenev, Director of the Mykolaiv Development Agency Ihor Filippov, Head of the Office of European Integration Viktor Sykalenko, as well as project participants Yana Datsyuk and Oksana Petrenko.
A dialogue on European programs and international partnerships
At the Aalborg Municipality, together with representatives of the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Finance and Business, Special Advisor Mette Gregersen, and Senior Advisor Christina Folmand Knudsen, they discussed opportunities for joint participation in EU programs, specifically Interreg, Horizon Europe, and Creative Europe. The Mykolaiv delegation presented strategic priorities and needs related to European integration and project development.
“I sincerely thank our international partners for their support of Mykolaiv and their willingness to work together on the reconstruction of our city. I would like to express special gratitude to Aalborg Mayor Lasse Friman Jensen for the exceptionally warm meeting and friendly reception. This visit has once again proven that the solidarity of our Danish friends is not merely declarative, but manifests itself in concrete assistance and a sincere desire to develop our partnership,” noted Serhii Koreniev, Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv.
Following the visit, areas for further cooperation between Mykolaiv and Aalborg were identified. The delegation gathered practical information to develop a roadmap for European integration cooperation, which will serve as the basis for preparing joint project proposals for EU programs.
Exploring models of civil society and adult education. The visit’s program covered several areas critical to Mykolaiv’s development in the context of European integration.
At the Aalborg Volunteer Center, Director Nini Joland and her deputy, Katja Jørgensen, presented mechanisms for supporting social work. In particular, the delegation learned about the provisions of Section 18 of the Danish Social Services Act, which provides for municipal funding of voluntary social work, and the activities of the national FriSe network, which brings together over 80 local volunteer centers across Denmark.
Another focus of the visit was exploring the Danish model of adult education. At the HF&VUC NORD center, the delegation learned about the system of continuous adult education and skills development, as well as cooperation with the municipality. Director Lene Jüding spoke in detail about the center’s role in fostering social cohesion within the community, and our representatives had the opportunity to speak with Ukrainian students studying there.
In particular, we visited the Aalborg Folk High School. The school’s director, Erik Sidenius, demonstrated how the Danish tradition of folkehøjskole — informal adult education focused on personal development and active citizenship — works. He presented the school’s educational approach, its funding model, and its role in strengthening democratic participation.
“The visit to Aalborg was the third activity of the ‘Office of European Integration’ project, aimed at coordinating joint participation in European programs. The experience gained will be integrated into the work of the Office of European Integration, which coordinates the interaction between representatives of the executive bodies of the Mykolaiv City Council, civil society and youth organizations, and educational institutions to form international partnerships and prepare project applications for European Union programs,” said Viktor Sikalienko, head of the Office of European Integration.
For reference. The “U-LEAD with Europe” program for Ukraine, which focuses on local empowerment, accountability, and development, is jointly funded by the EU and its member states — Germany, Denmark, France, Austria, Poland, and Slovenia — to support Ukraine on its path toward strengthening local self-government. U-LEAD promotes transparent, sustainable, and accountable multilevel governance in Ukraine that responds to citizens’ needs and empowers communities.
Photo: Mykolaiv Development Agency
