National Unity Agency to be created under Ministry of National Unity – Chernyshov
Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov presented the working concept of the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine.
"We, as a state, must certainly work systematically to, on the one hand, do everything to encourage Ukrainians to return home, and on the other hand, support those who today have decided to continue their lives [possibly temporarily, possibly longer] in Europe. They remain Ukrainians, they must feel a connection with the state, and at some point, perhaps, consider such an option as returning," Chernyshov said at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, Deoccupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations, which was held on December 23.
According to him, the work of the Ministry of National Unity will be divided into a number of functions: interaction with the Ukrainian community abroad; national unity and strategic communications; cooperation with international stakeholders; internal interaction and structural development; policies for the return of Ukrainians.
As for the organizational structure of the new ministry, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, it is assumed that the National Unity Agency will be created under the Ministry of National Unity - a body that will implement the policies formed by the ministry.
"The creation of the Agency is already underway, its registration, the relevant regulatory and legal acts are already at the Cabinet of Ministers Secretariat," he added.
The functions of the Agency include: providing legal assistance; coordinating student networks; informing about opportunities in Ukraine; countering disinformation; helping Ukrainians adapt abroad; supporting Ukraine in the expert community; forming Ukraine's voices abroad; interacting with Ukrainian religious communities abroad; assisting in employment in Ukraine (remote interviews; a project to help provide employees for enterprises in the Ukrainian defense industry, energy and other priority areas).
Further, the National Unity Agency will open departments in key countries where Ukrainians are staying, primarily in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, and possibly in other countries. Unity Hubs will be created in the capitals of these countries.
"Unity Hub is the Ukrainian House, it is a representative office of Ukraine where Ukrainians stay, for example, in Berlin or Warsaw, it should solve many issues," Chernyshov said.
He noted that the functions and capabilities of Unity Hub include: educational and cultural space, language courses, a consultant on return, consular services (as an external service), banking services, postal services, a coordinator for economic opportunities, the State Enterprise Document, gatherings of opinion leaders, programs for children and youth, a Ukrainian cafe, a business hub and coworking and UA Job Center.
In addition, it is expected that public and charitable organizations, as well as ambassadors (athletes, activists, scientists, cultural figures, and influencers) will be deeply involved in the work of the ministry, who will promote the idea of the return of Ukrainians home.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that negotiations with key countries on the creation of Unity Hub have already begun at the highest level.
He also said that in December 2024-January 2025, the structure of the Ministry of National Unity will be approved, the regulation will be approved, and the National Unity Agency will be created. Among other things, Chernyshov said that the approximate number of Ukrainians abroad is 20-25 million people. This number includes citizens who left Ukraine during the period of independence; citizens who left after the start of full-scale aggression by the Russian Federation; the diaspora. According to him, there are about 4.8 million citizens who left after the start of the full-scale invasion, who received temporary protection in Europe.