Support for Ukraine
As Volt, we want Enschede to offer support for Ukraine. This file shows relevant updates in Enschede around this topic.
2025-03-03: Questions in the council meeting on current affairs 2024-07-15: Motion titled “Enschede supports Ukraine with reconstruction”
News articles about how our region supports Ukraine
2025-03-03
URL: Vragen Erik Kemp Volt inz. steun aan Oekraïne Type: Questions in the council meeting on current affairs
Introduction Last Monday marked 3 years since Russia invaded Ukraine. On Tuesday ‘Writers for Ukraine’ organised a meeting in 'De Kleine Willem', which touched me very much. On this fierce evening, writers and soldiers shared their stories about the horrific situation in Ukraine. I would like to take you through some of the things that were said that evening.
Enschedean and initiator of the Protect Ukraine Foundation Jaap Scholten told, among other things, about how their foundation transports nappies and catheters to Ukraine. When they got the demand for those materials, they didn't know what it was needed for. On arrival in Ukraine, it turned out it was for returned war prisoners. A large proportion of the returning Ukrainian war prisoners turned out to have been so badly tortured by the Russians that they became incontinent.
Ukrainian medic Christina who told how she trained 30 other medics, none of whom are currently still alive. Former commander of land forces Mart de Kruijf shared this take home-message with the visitors: “If we just let a democratic country in Europe be wiped off the map, we are not worthy of democracy”. Tommy Wieringa shared how he takes rugby players to Ukraine and how they are lit with the fire for democracy that is strong in the hearts of Ukrainians.
We as an Enschede city council passed a motion last year to support Ukraine in reconstruction. We understood from the college that as a municipality we are now giving webinars to help Ukrainian officials with sustainable urban development and writing grant applications. Volt wonders exactly how much we are doing for Ukraine, and whether we in Enschede can't do more. Last November, for instance, we received from Hof van Twente the invitation to participate in their initiative on support for Ukraine's reconstruction.
On support to Ukraine, Volt asks the following questions:
1) What has Enschede already done in terms of support to Ukraine, and what support is already planned for next year? 2) How does the Board view the initiative of the Hof van Twente municipality? Could we join it as the municipality of Enschede? 3) Does the College agree with us that we could do more to support Ukraine, and if so, does the College have any ideas what else we could do for Ukraine?
2024-07-15
URL: Enschede steunt Oekraïne bij wederopbouw Type: Motion Factions: Volt Status: Approved Voted in favour: Volt (2), PvdA (4), CDA (3), D66 (3), CU (2), SP(2), EA (1), PvdD (1) Voted against: BBE (10), VVD (4), PVV (2) Result: Ongoing support for Konotop, a city with 80.000 inhabitants in the north of Ukraine.
Title motion: Enschede supports Ukraine in reconstruction
The City Council of Enschede, meeting on 15-07-2024, having heard the deliberation on: Summer Memorandum 2024
Noting that: – The 2023 annual accounts already showed that we were so far left with 9.5 million in contributions from the state for the reception of Ukrainian refugees [1]. – With this summer note, we are already budgeting in advance €4 million of this contribution for the reception of Ukrainian refugees to make up our own budget. – There is a terrible war going on in Ukraine, about which, by the way, our local broadcaster 1 Twente has made a has made a wonderful documentary about [2]. – A plan has been launched for a decentralised reconstruction of Ukraine .3 = European cities at the same European summit were called upon by the Ukrainian representation to find a partner city in Ukraine for decentralised post-war reconstruction support [4]. – The Dutch government signed a 10-year security agreement with Ukraine in March 2024, which includes effort for reconstruction assistance [5].
Considering: – It is questionable to use this huge financial windfall as a ‘closing item’ to make our own budget. – In doing so, it would be appropriate to take concrete steps to shape aid to Ukraine ourselves as a city from our own expertise as local authorities in the Netherlands and in the EU. Instructs the Executive Board to: – In consultation with VNG international to respond positively to the appeal to European cities made by the Ukrainian delegation made at the European Summit of Cities and Regions in Mons, offering to actively use our expertise in the field of reconstruction in Ukraine.
And moves on to the order of business.
News articles
2025-02-17 1Twente: “Thales gaat samenwerken met Oekraïens defensiebedrijf