Ports of Stockholm, Baltic Ports Organisation, and Interlegal Law Firm launch a joint project for the supportand development of Ukrainian ports
25 Листопада, 2024
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Within the Ukraine Cooperation Programme, the Swedish Institute has provided support for a joint project involving the Ports of Stockholm, the Baltic Ports Organization (BPO), and the law firm Interlegal. The project, called Integraports, aims to strengthen the capacity of these ports and create a basis for their integration into the EU transport network (TEN-T), an important part of Ukraine’s future trade and post-war recovery.
Ports of Stockholm has now been granted support from the Swedish Institute to cooperate with Ukrainian ports in order to increase their efficiency and create the conditions for stronger trade in the future.
“We are proud to start this important cooperation and to contribute our expertise and experience in port management, sustainability and logistics. By supporting Ukraine’s ports in their adaptation to EU standards, we hope to create a sustainable basis for increased regional cooperation and future trade,” says Jens Holm, Chair of the Board of Ports of Stockholm.
“Once the war in Ukraine is over, the Ukrainian ports and transport system will start the process of integration with the EU. We, as the BPO, thanks to Swedish Institute’s funding, and together with the Ports of Stockholm, wish to support the Ukrainian ports in that endeavour. Some of the Baltic countries were exposed to a similar process 20 years ago, its benefits and opportunities created for the whole Baltic Sea Region clearly visible today,” said Bogdan Ołdakowski, Secretary General, Baltic Ports Organization.
The Integraports project runs from November 2024 to October 2025. The initiative incorporates a number of activities, including a needs analysis, training in applying for EU funds and exchanges through study visits to a Baltic Sea port.
As one of the largest maritime law firms in the Black Sea region, deeply rooted in Ukraine, Interlegal is committed to supporting the recovery and modernization of Ukraine’s transport infrastructure, drawing on its extensive experience in international maritime law. The company will play a visible role in these efforts, providing legal expertise to align Ukrainian ports with EU standards and regulations.
Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022 and was granted EU candidate status in June 2022. In December 2023, EU leaders decided to open accession negotiations. Ukrainian transport infrastructure and its ports have been included in the new revised EU Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy.
The project also intends to seek synergies with other approved projects within the City of Stockholm, supported by the City Theatre and the City Management Office.
