Day 1Diplomacy, Youth and Academic Cooperation

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

2:00 p.m. - Start of the Forum
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | The impact of the war in Ukraine on Franco-Ukrainian relations: youth, diplomacy and the role of Europe. Education and diplomacy in crisis contexts.
● Benjamin HADDAD, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Europe ● Prof. Julien HUSSON, Dean, IAE Metz School of Management● Prof. Cécile NOUVEL, Vice-President in charge of International Strategy, University of Lorraine● François GROSDIDIER, Mayor of Metz and President of the Metz Eurometropolis● Konstantin ABLAZOV, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of Ukraine in France● Brigitte TORLOTING, VP déléguée transfrontalier, Europe et Relations internationales● Ludovic MENDES, Member of Parliament for Moselle, National Assembly● Dr Violeta MOSKALU, Academic Director, Franco-Ukrainian Programme, IAE Metz School of Management, University of Lorraine
Presentation of the Franco-Ukrainian Guestbook of the City of Metz (FR-UKR students & Alumni)
Exchanges with the media
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Round table (following): assessment and prospects of the 25 years of Franco-Ukrainian academic collaboration promoted in Metz and led by the University of Lorraine
Speakers:● Dr Elisabeth DESCHANET, Director of the Lorraine Management Innovation (LMI) College, University of Lorraine● Prof. Germano MONTEMEZZANI, LMOPS Laboratory, University of Lorraine and Centrale Supelec● Franck PICHOFF, Communications Manager, ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling (Luxembourg)● Dr Natalya YAKOVYSHENA, Scientific Advisor, Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie● Natalia GUZENKO-BUDIER, Director of the Ukrainian Institute in France● Maxime DESCHANET, Head of Studies, IAE Metz School of Management
Moderation: ● Nathalie FICK, Director of International and European Relations (DRIE), University of Lorraine● Dr. Violeta MOSKALU, Academic Director, Franco-Ukrainian Program, IAE Metz School of Management
Present: ● Students and teachers of the 2025 edition of the Franco-Ukrainian Summer University ● Coordinators and partners of the FR-UKR Summer School 2025 ● Ukrainian delegation invited by the DRIE, University of Lorraine ● Teachers and alumni of the DU FR–UKR programme (2022-2025)● Institutional and financial partners of the Franco-Ukrainian Programme
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | FR-UKR Friendship Glass - launch of the 2025 edition of the Franco-Ukrainian Summer University in Metz, in the presence of the delegation of Ukrainian academics and partners of the Franco-Ukrainian Programme.
Cultural program: Ukrainian music and dances

Day 2Institutional Cooperation, Diasporic Networks, Economic Renewal

Location: City Hall - Metz Town Hall, 1 Pl. d'Armes, 57000 Metz

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Reception and registration
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Opening Ceremony
Invited speakers:● François GROSDIDIER, Mayor of Metz and President of the Eurometropolis of Metz ● Konstantin ABLAZOV, Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of Ukraine in 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● (tbc) Presentation of the Ukraine Club supported by the CCI and the Grand Est Region to support regional SMEs/ETIs wishing to launch on the Ukrainian market
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.
Speakers: ● Tetyana YEHOROVA-LUTSENKO, President, Kharkiv Regional Council, Ukraine (tbc)● Pascal HUBER, Mayor of Chesny, Delegate Councillor Eurometropolis of Metz - Decentralized cooperation, relationship with the military authorities and the patriotic world.● 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"● Arnaud LUMET, Ambassador TechUkraine, Expert, Ukrainian Startup Fund● Antony MARTINI, Head of Education & Talent Programmes, The LHoFT - Luxembourg House of Financial Technology
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.
Speakers:● Sergiu CIOCLEA, Former Governor of the Central Bank of Moldova● 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 ● Evgenia PALIY, President of Luxembourg-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg
Aims:● 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
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