Enabel and Sida bring together European development leaders in Stockholm to strengthen coordination for Ukraine

Stockholm, 16 March 2026 – Enabel and Sida brought together CEOs and senior representatives of the Practitioners’ Network for European Development Cooperation (PN) in Stockholm to strengthen coordination of European development and international cooperation in Ukraine.

The high-level meeting focused on enhancing joint efforts in energy, health and digitalisation, three critical sectors for Ukraine’s recovery, resilience and progress on its EU accession path.

Opening the meeting, Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Enabel, and Hanna Hellquist, Acting Director General of Sida, highlighted the importance of coordinated European support to maximise impact and accelerate Ukraine’s recovery.

The event brought together PN member organisations, EU institutions, Ukrainian representatives and international partners to discuss how European development actors can align their operations, reduce duplication and strengthen partnerships on the ground.

Today, 22 members of the Practitioners’ Network are active in Ukraine, collectively mobilising €5.5 billion between 2022 and 2025 and deploying more than 800 staff to support Ukraine’s resilience and reconstruction.

Discussions focused on practical coordination mechanisms and joint programmes supporting Ukraine’s institutional capacity and essential services. Particular attention was given to strengthening health systems, ensuring energy resilience for critical infrastructure and advancing digital transformation aligned with EU standards.

During the session, Enabel shared examples of collaborative initiatives implemented together with European partners, including efforts to reinforce healthcare systems, support specialised medical training and improve energy resilience in social infrastructure such as hospitals.

“European development and international cooperation actors have a unique capacity to combine expertise, local presence and long-term partnerships,” said Jean Van Wetter. “By strengthening coordination within the Practitioners’ Network, we can deliver more impactful support and accompany Ukraine on its path towards recovery and EU integration.”

The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange with Ukrainian and European stakeholders on current priorities and explore concrete steps to further strengthen collaboration among development actors, governments, international organisations and the private sector.

The Stockholm meeting marks another step in deepening cooperation within the Practitioners’ Network and reinforcing Team Europe’s collective support to Ukraine.