On 24 September 2025, a joint meeting was convened between the Committee on Education, Science and Innovation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament
The Ukrainian delegation included:
The primary objective of the meeting was to explore the ways for enhanced support to Ukraine from the European Union and to define priority areas for cooperation within the remit of both committees — notably education, science, youth policy, media, and culture.
In his address, Committee Chair Serhii Babak provided an overview of the current state of Ukraine’s education system under martial law, highlighting both its achievements and profound challenges. He underscored that, notwithstanding the hardships of war, Ukrainian education continues to operate and evolve, while also drawing attention to the extensive damage inflicted on educational infrastructure.
Mr. Babak further emphasized the importance of legislative progress achieved during the period of full-scale invasion. Since February 2022, the Committee has advanced 29 pieces of legislation, among them:
The second part of the meeting focused on Ukraine’s engagement in EU educational initiatives, with particular attention to the Erasmus+ programme, which provides vital opportunities for students, educators, and institutions.
The participants reaffirmed that closer cooperation in education and science constitutes a critical element of Ukraine’s European path. They emphasized that such collaboration not only helps address the immediate challenges caused by the war but also underpins the sustainable development of Ukraine’s education system in alignment with European standards.