On December 8, in Brussels, the EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) general assembly unanimously decided to accept the Ukrainian Institute as an associate member of the EUNIC

The network unites cultural diplomacy institutes of EU countries and the United Kingdom, as well as ministries of foreign affairs and ministries of culture. The Ukrainian Institute became the 39th member of the association. 

EUNIC strengthens the role of culture in international relations and is a strategic partner of the European Union. It is a key network of cultural diplomacy in Europe and a platform for joint initiatives and exchange of experiences. The geography of EUNIC’s activities is not limited to Europe only: the network operates in more than 100 countries of the world through 136 clusters. 

Volodymyr Sheiko took part in the assembly’s opening panel discussion. Together with Diego Mellado, Head of Communication and Public Diplomacy, European External Action Service, Christophe Masson, Team Leader for Inclusive Societies, Neighbourhood East, DG NEAR (Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Comission) and Aušrinė Žilinskienė, Director of the Lithuanian Cultural Institute they discussed new opportunities for cooperation between Ukraine and EU partners within EUNIC during Russian aggression in Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by EUNIC President Johannes Ebert, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Goethe-Institut. 

The day before the EUNIC general assembly, the International Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2022 was held in Brussels, organised by the Ukrainian Institute, Jam Factory Art Center and the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union with the support of the Prague Civil Society Centre.