The former President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Cordeiro, has been awarded the Order of Merit of Ukraine, one of the highest honors bestowed by the country. The award, presented in Brussels by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for City and Territorial Development, Oleksii Riabykin, was granted on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelensky in recognition of Cordeiro’s contribution to promoting cooperation between European and Ukrainian regions and his support for the reconstruction of the country devastated by the Russian invasion.

At the ceremony, which took place during European Week of Cities and Regions, Oleksii Riabykin addressed the former President of the Regional Government: “This award recognizes your long-standing support for Ukraine, which we have all felt during these difficult times of war. We are extremely grateful for your efforts as President of the European Committee of the Regions. I would now like to invite you to accept this award. It is a great honor for our country to have friends like these.” Between June 2022 and February 2025, Vasco Cordeiro chaired the European Committee of the Regions, an advisory body composed of elected representatives of regional and local authorities from the 27 countries of the European Union.

According to information available on the Committee’s website, during his term, the Azorean politician led several initiatives to support Ukraine: “His presidency was instrumental in continuing the Committee’s work in support of Ukraine, with the launch of the European Alliance of Municipalities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and the adoption of a 10-point support package presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.” On social media, Vasco Cordeiro described the award as “an honor as great as it is unexpected.” He stressed that the recognition “signals the work of many people in the European Committee of the Regions, starting with those who made up my office while I was president of that European institution.” Speaking to RTP/Açores, the politician also said that this tribute is also a warning that the war is still ongoing on European territory and that much work is still needed on the part of the “local and regional authorities of Ukraine and Europe” to achieve “lasting and sustainable peace.”

José Henrique Andrade is a journalist for Correio dos Açores-Natalino Viveiros, director.

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