Germany's Merz to attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome

Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius announced Merz's participation on July 4, noting that the Chancellor will speak at the high-level opening session and hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines, Ukrinform reports.

"At the conference, he will present Germany's support for reforms in Ukraine, as well as efforts to strengthen the country's economy and society in preparation for reconstruction," Kornelius said.

The goal of the Rome summit is to rally broad international support for rebuilding Ukraine, with a focus on mobilizing investment, developing skilled labor, and boosting the private sector.

The event will build on the outcomes of previous recovery conferences, including the 2024 summit in Berlin. It is expected to highlight reconstruction as a task for society as a whole, drawing participants from governments, civil society, business, international organizations, and local communities.

Also attending will be German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan. Her ministry's spokesperson, Katharina Koufen, emphasized the urgent needs in Ukraine, including housing and infrastructure for over 300,000 internally displaced persons.

"There's a critical shortage of skilled workers, as many Ukrainians are either on the front lines or have fled abroad. To address this, we've launched a skilled labor alliance and are supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to keep the economy going. We're also backing Ukraine's energy supply," Koufen said.

While no new commitments are expected at the conference, Koufen underscored the importance of building partnerships to launch future joint initiatives.

The Rome summit will be the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference since Russia's full-scale invasion, following meetings in Lugano, London, and Berlin.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine