On the 9th of July, I had the opportunity to participate in a debate on Ukraine’s potential future in the European Union, challenges and opportunities for companies. It was organised by the Union of Employers of Ukraine (UEU), which was invited as an observer to Business Europe, thanks in large part to the excellent work of Maciej Witucki. I admit that this is the first time I have attended a meeting where we are discussing investment opportunities while looking at before and after photos of a bombed-out factory or supermarket. Nevertheless, the meeting was very interesting and I discovered that Ukrainians are relentless in their efforts to function as normally as possible.

I was positively surprised by the UEU’s commitment to fighting corruption by implementing digital tools for auditing and transparency and consciously opting out of Ukrainian oligarchs and government companies in its ranks, while maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with its government that encourages investment attraction. Noteworthy is UEU’s cooperation with our partners from the Lewiatan Confederation and, through this, with Business Europe. Despite its observer status – not being a full member – it can provide concrete data and raise awareness of the European institutions to the challenges of the Ukrainian private sector and neighbouring countries. For example, they brought attention to the fact that logistics and agricultural production are issues in cooperation with other EU member states that erode Ukraine’s good relationship with neighbouring countries.

It caught my attention that 10% of all companies starting up in Poland are from Ukraine. This is an impressive figure, but it does not change the fact that it is a closed community managed by Ukrainians for Ukrainians. I am glad that the Union of Ukrainian Employers has opened an international office, and I hope that this will help the members they represent become more open to Poland and the world. Several companies have contacted Atland, asking us if we have reliable contacts in Ukraine. Exploring the potential for this cooperation is worthwhile, particularly given the context of the country’s reconstruction efforts.

I understand the situation and the patriotic commitment of the business leaders who gathered there. However, I think it’s sensible to have a backup plan in place for the Ukrainian economy. I hope for Ukraine’s victory and freedom, but the trend in European and American societies shows that we’re increasingly less concerned about this conflict, having unfortunately become accustomed to it. The sanctions have proven to be more challenging for the EU’s economy than for Russia’s. Additionally, the conflict in Gaza is diverting resources and focus from the political arena, the media, entrepreneurs, and citizens. Moreover, the potential for Trump’s victory in the USA and the rising influence of nationalist parties in the European Parliament make it hard to remain optimistic about a swift resolution for Ukraine.

At Atland, we are committed to working with Ukraine and continuing to enhance positive impacts and investments in the country. Since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have been actively supporting refugees in Poland, Germany, and Spain, and now we hope to also be actively involved in what is happening on the ground.