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The European Centre for Freedom and Independence

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The European Centre for Freedom and Independence

We are a Vienna-based NGO. Our projects are connected with UA. They are implemented all around Europe

We are a Vienna-based NGO founded after the war in Ukraine started in February 2022. Our mission is to promote a united Europe and support Ukraine on its way to the EU Integration. Key areas of our activities:

- democracy building (civil society, policy transparency, inclusion, citizens engagement in public policy);
- human rights and gender equality;
- development of an effective society;
- p

romoting the rebuilding of Ukraine;
- knowledge and experience exchange for professionals in different fields. Projects we focus on:

- promoting a united Europe;
- rebuilding of Ukraine and supporting its integration into the EU. Although we are based in Vienna, our initiatives relate to Ukraine, its rebuilding and euro integration;
- non-formal education;
- experience and knowledge exchange.

09/03/2026

Over the past four years, the story of Ukrainian professionals in Austria has been steadily evolving.

When many Ukrainian women first arrived in Europe because of the war, the first priority was safety and stability. The next step became rebuilding professional lives and integrating into the labour market. Today a new stage is emerging as more women begin exploring entrepreneurship and building their own businesses.

On 4 March, The European Centre for Freedom and Independence, with the support of the Vienna Business Agency Wirtschaftsagentur Wien, brought together more than 60 Ukrainian professionals for the open event Business & Entrepreneurship in Vienna: Women Building Sustainable Businesses.

At the Expat Center of the Vienna Business Agency, participants explored how entrepreneurship and self employment can work in Austria and how professional experience can be transformed into sustainable career paths.

Business Consultant and Coach Evgeniya Chulis presented the Austrian business landscape and key steps for starting a business, including legal forms, taxation and social security obligations.

Yuliia Kadibash, a YOU!Community member working as a self employed expert in Austria since 2022, shared practical insights on registering as self employed and navigating Austrian institutions.

Opening the event, EUCFI co-founder Olena Bekreniova Олена Бекреньова reflected:

“When many Ukrainian women arrived in Europe four years ago because of the war, they did not arrive as entrepreneurs. They arrived as professionals whose lives had suddenly been interrupted. Step by step many have begun rebuilding their careers and discovering that entrepreneurship can become a powerful pathway forward.”

Through initiatives such as the Professional Integration HUB and YOU!Community, the European Centre for Freedom and Independence continues to create spaces where Ukrainian professionals can learn, connect and explore new opportunities.

Our sincere thanks to Tülay Tuncel, Bettina Litschauer, Celine Rudorfer from Vienna Business Agency, Evgeniya Chulis, Yuliia Kadibash and all participants.

🔗 More about the event is available on our website.
The link can be found in comments.

06/03/2026

On 4 March, we hosted an open event at the Expat Center of the Vienna Business Agency — Business & Entrepreneurship in Vienna: Women Building Sustainable Businesses — bringing together Ukrainian women professionals in Austria interested in entrepreneurship and self-employment.

The open format of the event revealed a strong demand for spaces where Ukrainian professionals can exchange experience, gain practical insights and explore new professional opportunities.

It also reminded us how important it is to come together as a community. To meet, share ideas, support each other and build something meaningful together.

We will continue creating such spaces.

Our sincere thanks to Tülay Tuncel and the team of the Vienna Business Agency Wirtschaftsagentur Wien for supporting the event, to our speakers Evgeniya Chulis and Yuliia Kadibash for the insightful discussion, and to all participants for their openness and active engagement.

More details soon.

24/02/2026

Four years ago, russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Four years later, Ukraine stands.

Ukraine stands through the strength of its people and the courage of its Armed Forces, who defend their country every day under relentless attack. Ukrainian soldiers defend their homes, their families, and their children, and in doing so they stand on the frontline of protecting the principles on which the modern world is built: freedom, democracy, sovereignty, and international law.

This was never a choice to fight. Ukrainians did not choose war. They chose freedom and the right to live in their own country. In the 21st century, this fundamental choice is being defended through extraordinary resilience and immense sacrifice.

Ukraine holds a line that extends far beyond its borders.

By defending itself, Ukraine strengthens Europe’s security and upholds an international order grounded in law, not force. The outcome of this war will shape the future of stability and freedom across Europe.

Over the past four years, solidarity across Europe has taken real and human form. Thousands of Austrians opened their homes to Ukrainians forced to flee the war. They offered safety, dignity, and humanity in a time of profound uncertainty. These acts reflect shared values and a shared responsibility for the future.

Four years on, this responsibility remains as urgent as ever.

Ukraine continues to face daily attacks. Its cities remain under threat. Its people continue to live and work under the constant weight of war.

Ukraine continues to stand.

To endure, Ukraine requires strong, united, and timely support from the international community.

Supporting Ukraine protects peace in Europe and strengthens the future of freedom, security, and international stability.

Ukraine stands. And as Ukraine stands, the future of freedom remains possible.

Glory to Ukraine.
Glory to the Ukrainian heroes.

23/02/2026

HOW TO BUILD A BUSINESS IN VIENNA?

We invite Ukrainian 🇺🇦 women professionals in Austria 🇦🇹 to the special event on Business & Entrepreneurship in Vienna — a practical and informative session designed to help you understand how the Austrian business ecosystem works and how to navigate your own professional and entrepreneurial path within it.

Organised in partnership between the The European Centre for Freedom and Independence and the Vienna Business Agency Wirtschaftsagentur Wien, this event brings together two essential perspectives:

• institutional insights from the Vienna Business Agency
• personal experience of a Ukrainian professional who has successfully established herself in Vienna

🗣️ SPEAKERS

• Tülay Tuncel, Vienna Business Agency
• Yuliia Kadibash, YOU!Community Member, Expert with 25+ years of experience in international personal taxation and cross-border compliance, social security coverage and international mobility. Currently, self-employed in Austria, sharing first-hand experience on local compliance and official procedures for registration as a self-employed.

👉🏻 WHAT TO EXPECT

✅ Institutional insights from the Vienna Business Agency
• Overview of the Austrian business and entrepreneurship landscape
• Legal and administrative steps for starting a business or becoming self-employed
• Open Q&A session

✅ Personal experience and practical guidance from a Ukrainian professional in Vienna
• Real-life journey of building a self-employed career in Austria
• Taxation, social contributions, and compliance essentials
• Key differences between Austrian and Ukrainian systems
• Practical advice on navigating Austrian bureaucracy and professional integration
• Open Q&A session

The event will conclude with a networking session.

🗓️ Date: 4 March 2026
⏱️ Time: 16:00–18:00
📍 Venue: Expat Center of the Vienna Business Agency, Schmerlingpl. 3, 1010 Wien
🗣️ Working languages: English and Ukrainian

This event is open to all Ukrainian women professionals in Austria who are interested in entrepreneurship, self-employment, or understanding the Austrian business environment.

❕Registration is now open! Up to 50 places are available. The registration deadline is February 27.

🔗 Please find the registration link in comments.

13/02/2026

Behind the HUB | OLGA OLEFIROVA

Today, we conclude Behind the HUB, our interview series featuring the program organisers shaping the initiative.

🗣️ In this final conversation, we speak with Olga Olefirova, Co-Founder of the European Centre for Freedom and Independence and Program Manager of the Professional Integration HUB.

Drawing on over 20 years of experience in reforms, institutional development, and European integration, Olga reflects on what enables systemic change — and what holds it back. She speaks about working for Ukraine while living abroad, preserving human capital during wartime, and translating long-term expertise into practical action.

🖇️ Key insights from the interview:

STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO NEW REALITIES

• I came to Austria to study, but for many years, I remained actively engaged in Ukraine professionally. Everything changed with the start of the full-scale invasion. Today, although I am rarely in Ukraine physically, all my projects remain closely connected to it.
• Maintaining a strong link with Ukraine and contributing to its future is extremely important to me. I don’t exclude the possibility of returning after the war and playing an active role in its recovery.
• Once the situation had somewhat stabilized, the question arose: how could I continue helping Ukraine from where I am now?

AUSTRIAN PARTNERSHIPS & PERCEPTION SHIFT

• We have been extremely impressed by the openness of Austrian institutions and organizations.
• Participants not only learned but also actively shared their professional experience, which proved extremely valuable to their Austrian colleagues.
• The presence of Ukrainians in EU countries has had a positive impact on our country — they have become the voice of Ukraine abroad and its representatives in the realm of soft diplomacy.

NEXT PHASE OF THE HUB

• We see the future of the HUB not just as a set of targeted initiatives, but as a sustainable system capable of influencing the broader integration of Ukrainians into the EU.

🔗 Read the full interview on the website. Link in comments.

03/02/2026

Behind the HUB | OLENA BEKRENIOVA

Behind the HUB is an interview series highlighting the voices behind the Professional Integration HUB — program organisers whose integration journeys run alongside those of our participants.

In this edition, we speak with Olena Bekreniova (Олена Бекреньова), Co-Founder of the European Centre for Freedom and Independence.

Olena reflects on building the Centre from scratch, turning uncertainty into action, and creating spaces where Ukrainian women can reconnect with their professional identity, build networks, and regain confidence. She also shares how the Professional Integration HUB emerged in response to real challenges and evolved over three editions.

🖇️ Key insights from the interview:

CENTRE

• Organizations are best built on trust, consistency, and values rather than on formal structures alone.
• Managing complex programs, cooperating with international partners, and investing in people reinforced my belief that real impact is always systemic and long-term.
• We overcame all difficulties through discipline, flexibility, and, above all, human trust. Partners who were willing to try, participants who believed in us, and a team that worked beyond its limits.

PROFESSIONAL INTEGRATION HUB

• Integration cannot be built on downgrading people, but on recognising, translating, and activating their experience.
• HUB became more than an internship program — it became a space for rebuilding confidence and reconnecting with one’s professional identity.
• We understood that what was at stake was not only employment, but the preservation and development of human capital — both for Ukraine and for Europe.
• HUB shows how investing in human capital strengthens Austria, Europe, and Ukraine at the same time.

INTEGRATION

• At some point I realised: if the environment is entirely new and unknown, then I must create my own meaningful place within it.
• Integration is always mutual: when you are seen, and when you genuinely see others.
• The turning point came when I stopped perceiving my current life as ‘temporary.’

🔗 Read the full interview on the website. Link in comments.

29/01/2026

It is rare to meet someone as dedicated to their work and their team as you are!

Working with you means being part of a team that is always moving forward together. Your focus and energy shape our shared work, while your openness and care create a space where people feel supported and valued.

We truly admire your determination and your constant desire to grow and develop. You inspire those around you by example, encouraging all of us to keep learning, improving, and moving ahead.

Thank you for everything you bring into our common work, for your ideas, your trust, and for building this journey side by side.

We wish you calm, balance, and time for yourself, and that all the good you give to others finds its way back to you. 🕊️

Happy Birthday, Olga 💙💛

Your team 🤍

22/01/2026

We were honoured to co-organise a meeting of Ukrainian students with representatives of the United Nations in Vienna, together with the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna and the VIC Ukrainian Club.

On 20 January, students of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv Львівський національний університет імені Івана Франка and Ukrainian students studying in Vienna had a unique opportunity to explore the work of international organisations at the Vienna International Centre.

The program featured inspiring contributions from representatives of five UN entities whose work is directly relevant to Ukraine today, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization - CTBTO, UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), and the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention.

Students heard about concrete initiatives and innovative solutions implemented to support Ukraine and engaged in a live discussion format, with direct questions and meaningful exchanges. The networking part also offered valuable insights into internship and career opportunities within the UN system.

“One of the most important moments was realising that our ideas and voices matter,” the students shared after the visit.

We sincerely thank the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, the VIC Ukrainian Club, and Younia Vienna for their partnership and support in bringing this meeting to life.

Special thanks to Ms Solomiya Omelyan, President of the VIC Ukrainian Club, Yuri Vitrenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations, and Andriy Chesnokov, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, for their engagement and contribution. 🇺🇦🇦🇹

21/01/2026

Цінуємо можливість стати співорганізаторами зустрічі українських студентів з представниками ООН у Відні. Щиро дякуємо Постійному представництву України при міжнародних організаціях у Відні Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, VIC Ukrainian Club та Younia Vienna за співпрацю. 🇺🇦🇦🇹

31/12/2025

We are closing this year together with the partners, colleagues, and friends of our Centre. It has been a year of shared work, meaningful initiatives, open dialogue, and joint reflection on what has been achieved and what lies ahead.

Throughout the year, our cooperation led to important projects and initiatives we are proud of. It also strengthened partnerships, trust, and a shared sense of responsibility for the work we continue to build together.

We sincerely thank our partners for their trust, collaboration, and continued support throughout the year. 🤝

We look to 2026 with hope and believe it will bring peace to Ukraine and a stable, united future for Europe. 🕊️

Happy New Year! ✨

24/12/2025

Christmas Without Borders! 🎄💫

As Christmas approaches and Christmas Eve is just around the corner, we would like to share a moment of warmth, reflection and connection. 🪄

Last Saturday, an online Christmas gathering took place as part of the Samstag Deutsch Club.

💡 We spoke about Ukrainian Christmas traditions and their contemporary reinterpretation. Didukh as a symbol of family memory. Kutia as the heart of Christmas Eve. Carols as wishes of light, prosperity and hope, carried into today’s context.
At the same time, it was equally enriching to hear about Austrian Christmas traditions, creating space for exchange, shared reflections and new perspectives.

Among the participants were members of the YOU!Community, as well as the Club’s speakers, Austrian professionals who, over the course of 17 weeks, shared their expertise and experience within the Samstag Deutsch Club.

What made this gathering especially meaningful for us was that the presentation was prepared by members of the YOU!Community. It offered an internal perspective shaped by care, reflection and deep respect for cultural context, turning the conversation about traditions and their modern interpretations into a genuine and engaging cultural exchange. 🇺🇦🇦🇹

Warm thanks to Olesia Kvitka, Khrystyna Skorokhod, Oksana Musiienko, Oksana Denys and Kateryna Holubova for preparing and presenting such a thoughtful and inspiring topic! 👏🏻

In this carousel, we are sharing Ukrainian Christmas traditions and their contemporary reinterpretation presented during the event, inviting you to explore them with openness and curiosity. It offers space for Europeans to discover Ukrainian culture and for Ukrainians to reflect with warmth on their own family traditions. 🫶🏼

Merry Christmas! 🕯️

Adresse

Vienna
1020

Webseite

https://eucfi.org/

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