The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Grant Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Italian Republic for the programme “Restoration and Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Odessa Region” worth €32.5 million. Initiative No. 0352 was approved with 234 votes.
The adoption of this initiative establishes the legal framework for implementing the initiative, which aims to support the Government of Ukraine in preserving and restoring cultural heritage sites.
The programme places special focus on the protection of UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the “Historic Centre of Odessa,” as well as other significant cultural landmarks, in accordance with the terms of the Grant Agreement.
Its main goal is to preserve and restore key cultural sites in Odessa, which will help strengthen the socio-economic resilience of the region, maintain national identity, and promote Ukraine’s cultural heritage internationally.
After ratification, the funds will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture and then distributed among the city and regional authorities as grants.
According to preliminary estimates, the city of Odessa will receive approximately €6 million for properties owned by the City Council. The remaining funds will be allocated to buildings formally owned by the regional council, but also located in Odessa. All these sites are located in the city's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The list of sites nominated for restoration includes the Odessa Philharmonic (Nova Bourse), the Potocki Palace (Odessa Art Museum), the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, the Odessa Literary Museum, the Wedding Palace (4 Rishelyevskaya Street), and the Sontag House (6 Prymorskyi Avenue).
The involvement of grant funds from the Government of the Italian Republic is expected to provide additional value for Ukraine, enhancing cultural diplomacy and technical leadership in heritage preservation.
