UWC congratulates European Congress of Ukrainians on 77th anniversary

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) warmly congratulates the European Congress of Ukrainians (ECU) on its 77th anniversary and recognizes its long-standing work in uniting Ukrainian communities across Europe.

The organization’s history is traced back to Dec. 31, 1948, when the founding meeting of the Coordinating Center of Ukrainian Public Organizations (CCUPO) was held in London during the 5th Conference of Ukrainian Relief Committees.

This structure laid the foundation for systematic coordination among Ukrainian organizations in Europe. In 1994, during a meeting in Prague, the organization was renamed the European Congress of Ukrainians, reflecting its role as a key representative of Ukrainian communities on the continent.

The CCUPO was founded by organizations and relief committees from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and Spain. Its leadership included Chair Vasyl Mudryi (Germany), Deputy Chair Bohdan Panchuk (United Kingdom), Secretary Andrii Kishka (Belgium), and Executive Committee members Symon Sozontiv (France) and Fr. Ivan Prasko (Italy).

The UWC recognizes ECU’s significant contributions to the development of the Ukrainian community in Europe, its role in preserving cultural and national identity among Ukrainians abroad, and in forging international partnerships.