Vinnytsia Representative Elected Vice President of the European Federation of Saint James Way

This took place during the Federation's General Assembly, which is taking place on July 4-5 in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. Representatives of eight European countries present at the Assembly voted unanimously in favor of Andrii Ocheretnyi's candidacy.

The event brought together members of international associations and regional and local administrations associated with Saint James Way. In addition to approving the annual reports, the new Federation Strategy for 2025-2028 was considered as part of improving the development of the world's most famous cultural route of the Council of Europe. It provides for an increase in the number of member countries, interaction with civil society through associations of friends of the Way, study and preservation of heritage, development of the Camino hospitality phenomenon, and implementation of joint international grant projects. Vinnytsia has already submitted two grant applications in these areas with its partners.

In order to implement the new Strategy, elections to the governing bodies of the European Federation of Saint James Way were held for a new cycle. One of the elected positions was that of vice president, introduced under the new statute. The current and newly elected president of the Federation, Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, nominated a representative of Vinnytsia City Council as coordinator of the easternmost official branch of Saint James Way in Europe. According to the President, this election is crucial for the continuity and leadership of the Federation in its efforts to preserve and promote the Camino de Santiago throughout Europe. It is the participation of Ukraine that helps to expand the geography of the Way and attract new groups of heritage activists.

"The government of Galicia, where Saint James Way ends, supports Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes," said Xosé Manuel Merelles, head of the Galicia Tourism Agency. "As a symbol of unity with Ukraine's fight against aggression and desire for a just peace, we sent a signpost to Vinnytsia, which tells the direction and distance to Santiago de Compostela."

"The members of the Federation, which now number more than 20, expressed their maximum support for our struggle for freedom, democratic values, and the preservation of the cultural identity of Ukrainians. The Government of Galicia has expressed a desire to accept children of fallen soldiers for psychological rehabilitation in Spain, in particular through the Camino. At the same time, we are discussing methods of psychological rehabilitation of Ukrainian civilians and military personnel affected by the war during the cultural pilgrimage route," said Andrii Ocheretnyi.

Saint James Way was the first European cultural route certified by the Council of Europe in 1987. Its various parts pass through Europe and lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It was on the model of these routes that the Podillia Saint James Way (Camino Podolico) was created in 2021, which was certified as part of the Council of Europe's cultural route in 2024. The uniqueness of the Camino Podolico lies in the fact that this cultural, educational, and pilgrimage route passes through the most picturesque historical sites of eastern Podillia from Vinnytsia through Bar to Kamianets-Podilskyi.

More about Camino Podolico.