The EBA Presented The White Paper on Supporting Businesses in Border Regions with the EU

12/ 11/ 2025

The European Business Association has presented a new analytical document — “Supporting Business in the Regions of Ukraine that Border the EU”. The White Paper contains recommendations for the Ukrainian government and the EU institution for developing the economic potential of Ukraine’s western regions. Ukraine’s border regions — Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Chernivtsi, as well as Rivne and Ternopil — have strategic importance for the national economy and European integration. These regions have become the “gateway” for trade flows after the reorientation of Ukrainian exports toward the European market, which now accounts for over 60% of Ukraine’s foreign trade turnover. In the document, the Association proposes a number of initiatives to stimulate the economic development of regions bordering the EU, such as: positioning the regions as relatively safe and attractive for immediate investment, launching promotional campaigns, and supporting the participation of Ukrainian companies in international exhibitions; creating joint industrial parks and investment zones that would foster cross-border manufacturing development; developing logistics and production clusters that unite enterprises, research centers, and educational institutions; simplifying customs procedures and implementing a “customs visa-free regime” by expanding the practice of joint customs control with the EU; supporting relocated enterprises through grants and preferential loans; developing cross-border e-commerce and service businesses with bilateral presence — establishing offices and hubs operating simultaneously in Ukraine and EU countries. Special attention in the White Paper is given to cooperation with the European Union in developing transport infrastructure, expanding trans-European railway corridors, creating trade corridors, and launching cross-border cooperation programs. The goal of the document is an economic breakthrough for Ukraine’s border regions According to the EBA, the border regions have the potential to become the stronghold of Ukraine’s European integration — territories where new European practices and standards will be implemented most rapidly. The proposed measures could serve as a pilot project that, once refined, should be implemented in other regions of Ukraine. The White Paper “Supporting Business in the Regions of Ukraine that Border the EU” is available via the link.

The European Business Association has presented a new analytical document — “Supporting Business in the Regions of Ukraine that Border the EU”. The White Paper contains recommendations for the Ukrainian government and the EU institution for developing the economic potential of Ukraine’s western regions.

Ukraine’s border regions — Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Chernivtsi, as well as Rivne and Ternopil — have strategic importance for the national economy and European integration. These regions have become the “gateway” for trade flows after the reorientation of Ukrainian exports toward the European market, which now accounts for over 60% of Ukraine’s foreign trade turnover.

In the document, the Association proposes a number of initiatives to stimulate the economic development of regions bordering the EU, such as:

positioning the regions as relatively safe and attractive for immediate investment, launching promotional campaigns, and supporting the participation of Ukrainian companies in international exhibitions;
creating joint industrial parks and investment zones that would foster cross-border manufacturing development;
developing logistics and production clusters that unite enterprises, research centers, and educational institutions;
simplifying customs procedures and implementing a “customs visa-free regime” by expanding the practice of joint customs control with the EU;
supporting relocated enterprises through grants and preferential loans;
developing cross-border e-commerce and service businesses with bilateral presence — establishing offices and hubs operating simultaneously in Ukraine and EU countries.

Special attention in the White Paper is given to cooperation with the European Union in developing transport infrastructure, expanding trans-European railway corridors, creating trade corridors, and launching cross-border cooperation programs.

The goal of the document is an economic breakthrough for Ukraine’s border regions

According to the EBA, the border regions have the potential to become the stronghold of Ukraine’s European integration — territories where new European practices and standards will be implemented most rapidly.

The proposed measures could serve as a pilot project that, once refined, should be implemented in other regions of Ukraine.

The White Paper “Supporting Business in the Regions of Ukraine that Border the EU” is available via the link.