Day 1Diplomacy, Youth and Academic Cooperation

Location: IAE Metz School of Management, 1 Rue Augustin Fresnel, 57070 Metz

1:30 PM – Welcome of participants
2:00 PM – Welcome address | Round table: The impact of the war in Ukraine on Franco-Ukrainian relations: youth, diplomacy, and the role of Europe. Review and outlook on 25 years of Franco-Ukrainian academic collaboration initiated in Metz and supported by the University of Lorraine
• Prof. Julien HUSSON, Director, IAE Metz School of Management, University of Lorraine• Dr. Violeta MOSKALU, Academic Director, Franco-Ukrainian Program, IAE Metz School of Management, University of Lorraine
2:15–3:00 PM – Round Table 1: Review
• Prof. Cécile NOUVEL, Vice President for International Strategy, University of Lorraine• Dr. Elisabeth DESCHANET, Director of the Lorraine Management Innovation Collegium (LMI), University of Lorraine• Bohdan VASNEVSKYI, Political Advisor, Embassy of Ukraine in France• Franck PICHOFF, Communications Manager, ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling (Luxembourg)• Dr. Natalya YAKOVYSHENA, Ukraine Scientific Advisor, Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie
3:00–3:30 PM – Round Table 2: Outlook
• Prof. Germano MONTEMEZZANI, LMOPS Laboratory, University of Lorraine and Centrale Supelec• Prof. Yuriy KHALAVKA, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University• Prof. Nataliia KUZNIETSOVA, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute• Roman PETIUR, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv• Maxime DESCHANET, Academic Registrar, IAE Metz School of Management
Moderation:• Dr. Violeta MOSKALU, Academic Director, Franco-Ukrainian Program, IAE Metz School of Management, University of Lorraine• Nathalie FICK, Director of International and European Relations (DRIE), University of Lorraine
3:30 PM – Official Opening Ceremony
• François GROSDIDIER, Mayor of Metz and President of Metz Eurometropolis• Benjamin HADDAD, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of European Affairs
Presentation of the Franco-Ukrainian Golden Book of the City of Metz (students & FR-UKR Alumni)
4:00 PM – Interactive discussions with students of the FR-UKR Diploma: Q&A on European issues and Franco-Ukrainian cooperation
4:15 PM – FR-UKR DU in Action: Alumni of the Franco-Ukrainian Program Share Their Journey
4:50 PM – Official Photo
📸 In front of the IAE Metz – University of Lorraine banner (outdoors) with:● Guests of honour● Speakers● Students and partners
5:00 PM – 8:30 PM | FR-UKR Friendship Toast – Launch of the 2025 edition of the Franco-Ukrainian Summer University in Metz, in the presence of delegations and partners of the Franco-Ukrainian Program.
Cultural program: Ukrainian music and dance

Day 2Institutional Cooperation, Diasporic Networks, Economic Renewal

Location: Grand Salon, Hôtel de Ville, Metz

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Reception and registration
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Opening Ceremony
● François GROSDIDIER, Mayor of Metz and President of the Eurometropolis of Metz● Bohdan VASNEVSKYI, Conseiller politique, Ambassade d'Ukraine en France ● Dr Violeta MOSKALU, Academic Director, Franco-Ukrainian Programme, University of Lorraine
Objectives of the day:● Reaffirm the commitment to cooperation between France and Ukraine● Highlight city-to-city and university-to-university partnerships● Reaffirm Metz's role in the Franco-Ukrainian strategy focused on education, innovation and reconstruction (research and innovation component to be promoted in the Franco-Ukrainian bilateral treaty, based on the Security Cooperation Agreement between France and Ukraine dated February 16, 2024)
Moderation of the day: ● Thomas FRIANG, Executive Director of the ESSEC Institute of Geopolitics & Business● Dr Violeta MOSKALU, Academic Director, Franco-Ukrainian Programme, University of Lorraine
09:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Roundtable 1 – Innovation and Investment in the Real Economy: Infrastructure, Industries and Territories
Objectives: To highlight the public-private partnerships, concrete infrastructure projects and industrial investments already underway in the context of the reconstruction of Ukraine. Identify the levers of acceleration to anchor innovation in the territories and support the economic recovery:
● Reconstruction through infrastructure (modernisation of transport, water, energy and health networks; hybrid financing, calls for tenders, technical support. Franco-Ukrainian partnerships to strengthen value chains.● Territories and economic development (creation of regional hubs for reconstruction, integration of Ukraine into European investment networks).
Speakers:● Jean-Paul MARCZAK, Managing Director, Airbus Ukraine LLC● Marc ZERLAUTH, Sales Manager Eurasia / Near-East, Saint-Gobain PAM Canalisation● Pierre-Etienne CHAUSSE, Secretary General, Federation of Public Works of Lorraine● Diana SIDKO, Founder of CODIA - International Partnership Advisory, Board Member, French Tech Kyiv● Anastasiia KOBASKY, Alumni of the Franco-Ukrainian Program "Management and International Trade", class of 2022-2023
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Flash mob (Place d'Armes - J. F. Blondel)
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Round Table 2 - A technological and secure future: civil and defence innovations for a European renewal
Objectives: By highlighting recent high-impact technological projects,
● The roundtable will demonstrate that innovation is not just about supporting the recovery, ● but is actively shaping a more sustainable, secure and competitive future in sectors such as health, defence, environment, infrastructure and digital inclusion.
This approach to reconstruction positions Ukraine as a living laboratory of bold and scalable solutions, capable of redefining international cooperation, investment strategies and driving the new geo-political frameworks of the 21st century.
● Tetyana YEHOROVA-LUTSENKO, President, Kharkiv Regional Council, Ukraine (tbc)● Prof. Gérome GAUCHARD, University Professor in Biomechanics and Neuroscience, Faculty of Sports Sciences of Nancy, University of Lorraine, presentation of the project "Prostheses for Ukraine"● Jean-Philippe JEHL, University Lecturer in Materials Science, IUT Nancy Brabois & Institut Jean Lamour, University of Lorraine, co-leader of the “Prostheses for Ukraine” project● Pascal HUBER, Mayor of Chesny, Delegate Councillor Eurometropolis of Metz - Decentralized cooperation, relationship with the military authorities and the patriotic world.● Mykhaylo KUKONIN, PDG, société de distribution internationale Switchado● Arnaud LUMET, Ambassador TechUkraine, Expert, Ukrainian Startup Fund
3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. | Roundtable 3 – Global Ukraine: The Power of the Diaspora
Objectives: To highlight the role of the diaspora in the reconstruction and economic renewal of Ukraine, in particular through innovation and citizen participation.
The round table will explore the levers of action and the motivations of diaspora networks, a key driver of transnational cooperation to support the reconstruction of Ukraine and create synergies with the Greater Region, Europe and the world.
Sharing experiences and testimonies of experiences from other diasporas (e.g., Moldova, Romania, Georgia, etc.) on the realities of this commitment (before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall) will help to bring out new areas of synergy: ● Strengthen coordination between diaspora networks within the Quattropole, the Greater Region, the European Union and beyond
● To promote a new synergy of action, to better connect the actions of diasporas with official development assistance projects at the international level
● Defining policy recommendations for cooperation between the government and diasporas
● Sergiu CIOCLEA, Former Governor of the Central Bank of Moldova● Nataliia HONCHARIK, Business Development Manager, Luxembourg-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce ( LUCC)● Mykyta KHODAKIVSKYI, Co-Founder, Israeli Friends of Ukraine, Israeli-Ukrainian Alliance (Tel Aviv, Israel)● Stéphane LÉA, Consultant in territorial governance, Founder of SOLEOS● Dr. Violeta MOSKALU, Founding President of the Global Ukraine Foundation and the NGO Echanges Lorraine-Ukraine
4:45 p.m. –5:00 p.m. Closing remarks: Dr. Violeta MOSKALU, Academic Director, Franco-Ukrainian Program, University of Lorraine
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Cultural program: Ukrainian fashion, music and dances