The University of Trieste and the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv concluded the final week of their joint capacity‑building project with the workshop Upheaval Ukraine: Rethinking Security in a Changing Europe” held in Gorizia from 23 to 27 February 2026. The initiative brought together Italian and Ukrainian students and scholars for an intense programme of lectures and discussions on how the war has reshaped Europe’s security landscape.
This closing activity followed months of cooperation in the framework of the project Resilience and Preservation: Security, Migration and Cultural Heritage Protection in Ukraine financed by Italy though the Know-how Exchange Programme. Earlier project activities had explored the impact of the war on cultural identity and population movements, while study visits and exchanges offered participants a closer look at EU practices and governance models.
The February workshop drew these strands together. Contributions from experts of both universities, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and the CEI – Executive Secretariat - including Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Yurii Mushka - encouraged participants to reflect on hybrid threats, propaganda narratives, the evolution of European security institutions, and the implications of EU enlargement in times of conflict. He also noted “Ukraine remains a priority on the CEI agenda, where support is pursued consistently across political, technical, and academic levels”. The discussions highlighted how cultural, social, and geopolitical dimensions intersect in shaping Europe’s response to the war and in supporting Ukraine’s path toward integration.
The week concluded with the delivery of certificates and a shared commitment to continue the collaboration. The project will now move toward its final output, a joint research paper offering recommendations for strengthening EU–Ukraine cooperation across the three thematic areas addressed throughout the programme.
