Ukraine’s reconstruction could reshape Europe’s future, says CEPR report
CEPR report argues that Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction could become a defining force in Europe’s future
A new Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) paper, with a chapter authored by London Business School's Professor Hélène Rey, argues that Ukraine’s reconstruction could become one of the most important economic and strategic projects in modern European history.
In The Wild East: Ukraine and the Remaking of Europe, economist Yuriy Gorodnichenko describes Ukraine not simply as a country recovering from war, but as a potential driver of Europe’s future competitiveness, innovation and security.
The report argues that Ukraine’s battlefield experience has accelerated expertise in areas including defence technology, decentralised AI, cybersecurity and digital governance. It also highlights the country’s importance to Europe’s future energy security, agricultural resilience and industrial renewal.
The paper suggests that rebuilding Ukraine could provide Europe with a large-scale “laboratory” for next-generation urban design, clean energy infrastructure and logistics systems, while also deepening integration between Ukraine and the European Union.
The report forms part of CEPR’s broader Europe 2050 initiative exploring the continent’s long-term future.