On 10 November 2011 in Kovel, at an international conference on “Ukrainian-Polish Cooperation for Economic Development”, a declaration was signed creating a cooperative platform to increase cross-border ties and collaboration in three participating districts (Kovel, Turiysk and Shatsk). 

On 16 December 2011, the Volyn border region cooperative platform held a seminar for representatives of local authorities and NGOs in the platform area (Kovel, Turiysk and Shatsk districts).

The seminar covered many topics, primarily on how to develop the platform’s mission and on what should be the platform’s strategic goals during the current economic crisis? The platform’s organizational strengths and weaknesses, as well as a plan for organizational development were also discussed. Perhaps most importantly was how the organization should proceed to establish contacts and cooperation with Polish organizations. Zenon Kichka, the head of several Polish EU projects, addressed these topics as part of a discussion on ‘Strengthening the Role of NGOs in Regional Development: Opportunities and Barriers’.