SMART UA Partners Meet in Brussels for In-Person Coordination and Kick-off Meeting

The SMART UA project brought partners together for an in-person coordination and kick-off meeting held on 4 February 2026 at the JRS Europe office in Brussels. The meeting gathered all project partners to align on objectives, coordination mechanisms, and next steps for the implementation of activities supporting the social inclusion and integration of Ukrainian refugees in Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

Setting the foundations for cooperation

The day opened with welcoming remarks by JRS Europe, which also facilitated the meeting. The session clarified the objectives of the meeting, confirmed the agenda, and established working arrangements for the day, including roles for timekeeping, note-taking, and decision tracking. This initial alignment set the tone for a collaborative and structured project implementation.

Mapping and research: presenting the evidence base

The morning continued with country-level presentations on mapping and research analysis, focusing on both housing and employment. Research partners and institutions presented the main findings emerging from their work, providing an overview of key challenges, trends, and contextual factors affecting Ukrainian refugees’ access to housing and labour markets across the three countries. These inputs established the shared evidence base that will inform subsequent project activities.

Sharing workshop results and cross-country insights

Before lunch, partners from Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia presented the results of national workshops and discussed cross-country issues. This session highlighted what has worked, what has not, and where common challenges and opportunities exist across contexts. Building on these inputs, JRS Europe facilitated a synthesis session to identify key takeaways, good practices, and areas requiring adaptation or further attention as the project moves forward.

Reviewing project progress and coordination

In the afternoon, the meeting shifted to operational coordination. JRS Europe provided an overview of the project status, followed by short partner updates on ongoing activities, key milestones, and performance indicators related to the relevant work packages. This session allowed partners to assess progress collectively and identify items that are on track, at risk, or delayed.

Financial update and governance

A dedicated session was held for partner-by-partner financial updates. Each organisation presented its financial situation, followed by a joint discussion to clarify questions and agree on follow-up actions. This exchange ensured shared understanding of financial management requirements and reinforced transparency across the consortium.

Data management and next steps

Towards the end of the day, JRS Europe presented the project’s database approach, including access rules, roles and responsibilities, data protection considerations, governance, and timelines for future iterations. The meeting concluded with a recap of key decisions, agreement on next steps, and clarification of responsibilities and deadlines.

The kick-off meeting closed with informal time together, providing space for partners to strengthen working relationships and reinforce the collaborative spirit of the project. With a shared understanding of priorities and coordination mechanisms, SMART UA continues its implementation with a solid foundation for cooperation across countries.