UKRAINE - ACTUALITES DE LA DELEGATION DE LA CE
EU Member States and European Commission Ambassadors to Visit Crimea
A group of Ambassadors from a number of EU Member States and the European Commission will visit the Autonomous Republic of Crimea from 26 to 28 February in order to familiarise themselves with the socio-economic situation in Crimea and present a Joint Cooperation Initiative in Crimea, a proposal for a co-ordinated approach to promote social and economic development by the European Commission and a group of interested EU Member States.
(25 February, 2009)
European Commission prepares Europe Day 2009 celebrations in Ukraine
The Delegation of the European Commission is planning to mark Europe Day 2009 with regional celebrations due to the lower level of public awareness of the EU-related issues in Ukrainian regions. Therefore, the Delegation of the European Commission in cooperation with EU Member States and Candidate Countries Missions will organise Europe Day together with oblast and city authorities of two selected regions, namely Ternopil (23 May) and Kryvyy Rih (30 May).
(27 March, 2009)
EU-Funded Project Gave Practical Advice to Ukrainian Machinery & Equipment SMEs in Kharkiv
One of the main objectives of the EU-funded Project “Support to the Development of Business Capacity of Ukrainian SMEs – International Dimension” is to help companies to establish business links with EU companies. The project helps small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to find potential customers, investors and other partners. An important step in this process is to become familiar with EU market developments and business opportunities. Olga Trofymova, Project Coordinator in Kharkiv oblast said: “The companies are very interested in the Project. All companies expressed interest in developing their strategic and international marketing plans”.
(31 March, 2009)
Ambassador of European Commission to Ukraine to Visit Kharkiv Region
Ambassador José Manuel Pinto Teixeira, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Ukraine, will pay a visit to Kharkiv oblast on 2 April 2009. The objectives of this visit are to meet with regional and local authorities. Mr Teixeira will also open the new European Union Information Centre, which will be hosted by the Kharkiv State Economic University.
(31 March, 2009)
OSCE and European Union are handing over IT equipment to Ukraine’s Central Election Commission
951 computers and 557 multifunctional printers will be handed over by OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine (OSCE PCU) and representatives of the European Commission (EC) to Ukraine’s Central Election Commission to assist establishment of a state voter register. The equipment worth of 1.6 million euro provided by the EC will be delivered to 755 voter register maintenance bodies across Ukraine.
(2 April, 2009)
EU-funded National Tempus Office in Ukraine to be officially presented
The National Tempus Office (NTO) in Ukraine is to assist the European Commission and the Ukrainian National Authorities in the implementation of the Tempus Programme as well as other EU funded programmes aimed at the modernisation and transformation of higher education.
(2 April, 2009)
Official Visit of President Pöttering to Ukraine
Hans-Gert Pöttering, the President of the European Parliament, will pay an official visit to Ukraine on the 6th of April on the invitation of Mr Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.The highlight of the visit will be an address by President Pöttering to an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada. The President will convey a strong message on the necessary substantive cooperation between the EU and Ukraine in a bilateral and multilateral framework. The EU official will also underline the importance of political stability, of well carried out reforms and smoothly functioning institutions in order to deepen and strengthen EU relations with Ukraine, particularly in the light of the launch of the Eastern Partnership and ongoing negotiations on the Association Agreement.
(3 April, 2009)
EU-Ukraine Visa Facilitation Agreement Works Well
The Visa Facilitation Agreement has been in force for almost one year and a half. A first stock-taking clearly shows that it has made travelling to the EU for Ukrainians considerably easier and cheaper.
(16 April, 2009)
Regional project to support integration of refugees in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine
The regional project aimed at facilitating integration of refugees in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine is launched officially in Kyiv today. During the next two years the EU-funded project will be implemented by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in close cooperation with the authorities, civil society as well as refugee communities in the three countries. The event in Kyiv brought together some 30 participants representing all project partners.
(23 April, 2009)
EU project to support implementation of European Charter for Small Enterprises in Ukraine
This EU funded project, which will be completed in the current year, represents further co-operation between the government of Ukraine and the European Commission in the area of enterprise policy dialogue. The project objectives are to: support Ukraine in enterprise policy dialogue with EU and in achieving progress in the ten principles set out in the European Charter for Small Enterprises; develop the capacity of State Committee of Ukraine for Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship and of other government institutions to introduce and implement the principles of the European Charter for Small Enterprises.
(23 April, 2009)
EU-Funded Project Conducted Trade Mission to Hannover Trade Fair
An outward business partnership development mission to Germany for ten pilot machinery & equipment companies - Trade mission for Machinery & Equipment linked to Subcontracting Hannover Trade Fair was successfully organized and conducted with support from the EU funded Project on 20 - 23 April 2009.
(30 April, 2009)
Europe Day celebrations in Kyiv
The Delegation of European Commission together with embassies of EU Member States and Candidate Countries prepared numerous activities and contributions for marking this event. 18 EU Ambassadors have already started to visit Kyiv universities and discuss there with Ukrainian students current EU-Ukraine relations. These visits started on May 13 and will be continued till 15 May.
(13 May, 2009)
EU-funded project conducted trade mission to London Internet World Trade Fair
The EU-funded Project “Support to the Development of Business Capacity of Ukrainian SMEs – International Dimension” is implemented by a WYG International (UK) led consortium in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv oblasts. An outward business partnership development mission for ten pilot information technology (IT) companies - Trade mission for IT linked to Internet World, London, UK was successfully organized and conducted with support from the EU-funded Project on 27-30 April 2009.
(15 May, 2009)
University Consortium Completes Joint EU-funded TEMPUS Project
The “Crisis analysis and decision making in Ukraine” project was being implemented by the Universities’ Consortium composed of Stuttgart University (Germany) – the Grant Holder, Rome University “La Sapienza” (Italy) and four Ukrainian Universities - Dnipropetrovs’k National University named after O. Honchar (DNU), Kyiv International University (KIU), National Taurida University named after V. I. Vernadsky (NTU) and Ternopil National Economic University (TNEU). The objective of the project was to work out the Joint European and Ukrainian Master programme, based on the European experience in crisis management specialists’ training and implement it in four Ukrainian universities. Duration of the project was three years (September 2006-August 2009).
(5 June, 2009)
European Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel visits Ukraine
Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, will pay a visit to Ukraine on 15 and 16 June 2009. She has been invited to visit Ukraine by Minister of Agricultural Policy Yurii Melnyk. The Commissioner will also meet with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoschenko as well as representatives of Ukrainian agricultural sector and business community.
(12 June, 2009)
EU Presidency Statement concerning the Iranian Presidential elections
The Presidency is concerned about alleged irregularities during the election process and post-electional violence that broke out immediately after the release of the official election results on 13 June 2009. The Presidency hopes that outcome of the Presidential elections will bring the opportunity to resume the dialogue on nuclear issue and clear up Iranian possition in this regard.
(15 June, 2009)
EU Council extends Atalanta operations
On the 15th of June the Council of the European Union agreed that Operation EU Naval Force Atalanta should be extended for one year from its current end date of 13 December 2009. The Council noted that Operation EU Naval Force Atalanta had demonstrated its ability to act effectively against piracy, that piracy off the coast of Somalia was likely to remain a serious threat beyond the date of 13 December 2009, and that early agreement on extending the operation would facilitate the necessary force generation.
(16 June, 2009)
EU Council offers new tool for TV journalists
On 17 June a new tool for TV journalists was presented by the Press-service of the EU Council. The audiovisual service provides assistance to TV journalists wishing to cover the activities of the Council of the EU. The web page offers free of charge video material for television journalists looking for supporting footage and soundbites on the Council’s activities, mainly in the following fields: foreign policy, security and defence, activities of EU High Representative Javier Solana, fight against terrorism, and other topics.
(17 June, 2009)
Conclusions of the 13th EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council
On 16 June at the 13th EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council, the Cooperation Council welcomed the progress made in EU-Ukraine relations over the last year, recalling in particular the positive impetus provided in this respect by the EU-Ukraine Summit held in Paris in September 2008. The Cooperation Council underlined the significant progress made in negotiations on the new EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. It stressed that the new Agreement would provide considerable scope for deepening EU-Ukraine relations.
(17 June, 2009)
Teacher effectiveness hampered by lack of incentives and bad behavior in the classroom
Three out of four teachers feel that they lack incentives to improve the quality of their teaching, while bad behavior by students in the classroom disrupts lessons in three schools out of five, according to a new Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report prepared with the support of the EC. The report is based on the new Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) and provides, for the first time, internationally comparable data on conditions affecting teachers in schools based on survey findings in 23 participating countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium (Flemish Community), Brazil, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey).
(17 June, 2009)
EU, UNDP and UNFPA to complete joint project on HIV/STI prevention
HIV prevention among uniformed services in Ukraine should be considered as part of formation of healthy life stated the participants in the project’s closing Conference organised by the joint EU-UNDP-UNFPA Project “HIV/STI Prevention Among Uniformed Services in Ukraine” on 16-17 June 2009.
(17 June, 2009)
Ukrainian Consultants learn how to become advisers to SMEs for Internationalisation
One of the important objectives of the EU-funded Project “Support to the Development of Business Capacity of Ukrainian SMEs – International Dimension” is to help small and medium enterprises (SME) to expand business with the EU partners through provision of practical information, advice and useful tools related to exporting and attracting investment as well as to raise awareness about the benefits of internationalisation. An important step in this process is to become familiar with EU market developments and tools for efficiency improvement and export planning. A two days training course: “How to Assist SMEs to Support Their Internationalisation” was held on 11-12 June, 2009, in Kyiv, for 18 managers of Ukrainian consulting companies.
(19 June, 2009)
EU and Ukraine join forces to further improve identification of falsified travel documents at countr
The EU AENEAS 2005 project “Strengthening capacities and co-operation in the identification of forged and falsified travel documents in Ukraine”, with a budget of over 750.000 EUR, was implemented over a period of 30 months by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, together with its partners the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces in Kyiv and the western regions of Ukraine.
(19 June, 2009)
1st Call for Proposals of the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENPI CBC Programme
On 16 June 2009 the National Development Agency of Hungary (acting as the Managing Authority of the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENPI Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013) in co-operation with the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development of Slovakia, the Ministry of Regional Development and Housing of Romania and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine (acting as the National Authorities) open a Call for Proposals in the framework of the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENPI Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013.
(17 June, 2009)
European Council Agenda, 18-19th June
On the 18-19t June EU heads of state and government are meeting in Brussels to deal with financial and economic issues, including financial supervision in Europe and employment, and seek political agreement to have José Manuel Barroso reappointed as President of the European Commission.
(19 June, 2009)
Joint EU-UNDP project presents results of research on consumer situation in Ukraine
The joint EU-UNDP “Consumer Society and Citizen Networks” project aims at providing Ukrainian consumers with reliable information and support in order to protect their interests and rights. The analysis of consumer attitudes was conducted on the initiative of the Project by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in 110 communities in every region (oblast) of Ukraine and in Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Data selection was representative by sex, age, region and type of community indicators. 1592 interviews among men and women in age from 15 to 59 were held, the field phase lasting from May 21 to May 31, 2009.
(25 June, 2009)
Fighting Cancer: A European partnership is born
On 24 June the European Commission reinforced its long-term commitment to the fight against cancer by creating a European Partnership for Action against Cancer. The partnership will focus on actions that can be taken at EU level to more effectively prevent and control cancer across Europe.
(25 June, 2009)
Friends of Twinning meet with experts
The fourth Friends of Twinning Training Club (FTTC) meeting took place on 22 June. Twenty five ‘Friends of Twinning’ were joined by three well-seasoned, short-term senior experts, who are in Kyiv to provide trainings on EU Twinning-related matters and Monitoring and Evaluation to Beneficiary Administrations involved in Twinning. The group this time discussed the challenges the world, the EU and Ukraine face and the possible solutions for overcoming them.
(26 June, 2009)
The third year in a row Ukraine wins in the International Drawing Competition on Gender Equality
The International Drawing Competition is carried out by the European Commission for the third year in a row in the countries which are not EU members therefore attracting more and more children. This year 25 thousand children from many countries participated in the Competition that was launched on the International Women’s Day of 8th March. The children from Algeria, Benin, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mexico, Somali, Togo and Ukraine became the winners of the International Drawing Competition 2009.
(26 June, 2009)
EU-funded statistics project
The European Union has funded a project in Ukraine with the aim to have an official statistical system at the same standard as in the Member States of the EU. Statistics on exports and imports, employment and unemployment, national accounts including prices and investments have been improved thanks to the project. For companies the new methods also means a reduced burden of response. For users a new system of statistics by region was introduced.
(2 July, 2009)
Commission calls for Smoke Free Europe by 2012
On 30 June the EC adopted a proposal calling on all Member States to bring in laws to protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke by 2012. Tobacco remains the largest single cause of premature death and disease in the European Union. Currently, ten EU countries have comprehensive smoke-free laws in place. UK and Ireland have the strictest smoke-free provisions with a complete ban on smoking in enclosed public places, on public transport and in workplaces. Bulgaria is due to follow suit in 2010.
(3 July, 2009)
€100 million to help start small businesses
On 2 July the European Commission proposed to set up a new microfinance facility providing microcredit to small businesses and to people who have lost their jobs and want to start their own small businesses.
(6 July, 2009)
7th round of EU-Ukraine FTA negotiations takes place in Kyiv
Talks on a free trade area (FTA) took place this week in Kiev, with negotiations reaching the 7th round after their launch in spring 2008. The FTA will be a key part of the future Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine.
(6 July, 2009)
EU-funded Project provides new web possibilities
Two workshops held at the end of June on improving the outreach and visibility of public administration websites and the introduction of a web-based information management system (TWINS) brought together representatives of 12 beneficiary administrations involved in the EU-funded Twinning programme.
(6 July, 2009)
Eastern Partnership – Civil Society Forum
The European Commission, together with the EU Presidency and the European Economic and Social Committee, will organise the launch of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in mid-November 2009 in Brussels.
(8 July, 2009)
EU-funded project on Strengthening Vocational Education Management in Ukraine
A final conference of the EU-funded project “Strengthening regional vocational education and training (VET) management in Ukraine“, due to be completed in August 2009, will take place on 9 July 2009 in Kyiv. The project has aimed at: developing and implementing different strategies on the regional level (VET strategy, Social Partnership Strategy, Regional Action Plan), improving training for decision makers on different levels in decentralization of VET, making the school managers fit for organising and managing VET schools under decentralized conditions, creating equipped and working national and regional resource centers to provide management information and to train their users. Six pilot regions (Cherkasy, Crimea, Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv city) were actively involved in the project activities.
(8 July, 2009)
Nearly 100 Ukrainian students and teachers to benefit from EU-funded Erasmus Mundus Mobility Grants
The European Commission has taken decision on the result of the third and the last call for proposals for Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window for mobility activities starting in the academic year 2009-2010 which was launched at the end of 2008. The 39 selected projects involve together 735 higher education Institutions and foresee 7 624 individual mobility grants to fund study, research and teaching visits at undergraduate, master, doctorate, post-doctorate levels and for academic staff.
(9 July, 2009)
Ambassador of European Commission to Ukraine to visit Donetsk region
Ambassador José Manuel Pinto Teixeira, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Ukraine, will visit Donetsk region on 9-10 July 2009. The objectives of this visit are to meet with regional and local authorities in Donetsk and Mariupol. Ambassador Pinto Teixeira will also participate in the signing ceremony of the Partnership Agreement between the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine, Donetsk State Administration and Regional Council to implement the joint EU-UNDP project on Community Based Approach to Local Development in the region.
(8 July, 2009)
EU allocates €70 million for its neighbours
On the 20th of July European Commission announced that the Neighborhood Investment Facility (NIF), a key instrument of the intensified European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), will benefit from a €70 million in 2009. These resources will allow neighboring partner countries to leverage increased funding for major investment projects in areas such as energy, transport and environment, and also SME development and the social sector.
(20 July, 2009)
New Ukrainian Erasmus Mundus students received practical training before their departure for studies
This was the very first orientation meeting of its kind organised for future Erasmus Mundus students from Eastern Europe. The day-long pre-departure orientation, which took place at the EC Delegation in Kyiv, was attended by more than twenty newly admitted Erasmus Mundus students from Ukraine.
(22 July, 2009)
EU simplifies the management of the European Funds
On July 22 the European Commission adopted new measures aimed at simplifying management rules for the Cohesion Policy. In the context of the current crisis, the aim is to boost the European economy by improving the conditions for launching more projects in the regions. The changes are intended to facilitate the implementation of the 455 Cohesion Policy programmes planned for 2007-2013, representing a total investment of €347 billion, or more than a third of the Community budget. The aim is to accelerate investment flows directed particularly towards project promoters and those citizens most affected by the crisis in the regions of Europe.
(23 July, 2009)
Conference on the rights of citizens in the EU
Lawyers, researchers and politicians from all over the EU are meeting in Stockholm during 22-23th of July to discuss the rights of the individual in connection with crime.
(23 July, 2009)
Bulgaria and Romania: Political consensus needed to push forward the progress on judicial reform
Cross-party political support is now needed to be done to deliver convincing results in judicial reform and tackling corruption in both Member States, and in the case of Bulgaria in the fight against organised crime. This is the main conclusion to be drawn from the two reports adopted on the 22nd of July by the Commission.
(24 July, 2009)
EU extends its mission to Georgia
On the 27th of July the Council has decided to extend the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) for another 12 months until 14 September 2010.
(28 July, 2009)
EU-Funded SME Project closing event
The EU funded Project “Support to the Development of Business Capacity of Ukrainian SMEs – International Dimension” is implemented by a WYG International (UK) led consortium in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv oblasts. The Project contributes to the development of small and medium sized enterprise (SME) competitiveness through institutional capacity building to the main SME policy institutions, technical assistance to SMEs in export and investment promotion, attracting foreign investments, and through the increase of awareness of business internationalization in the country. The Project started in September 2007 and will last until 31 August 2009. The Project supports 62 pilot SMEs from three priority regions: Kyiv (IT sector), Lviv (woodworking and furniture sector) and Kharkiv (machinery and equipment sector).
(29 July, 2009)
EU-funded project launches national journalist contest “Changes in you may change the world”
The EU-funded Project “Support to secondary healthcare reform in Ukraine” together with Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the National Healthcare Prize will organise a contest for journalists to cover issues dealing with further development of the healthcare system in Ukraine, including the recommendations from the EU-funded “Support to secondary healthcare reform in Ukraine” project. The contest will be held from 1 August to 30 November 2009.The contest results will be announced in December 2009.
(30 July, 2009)
A new wave of EU-UNDP funded social ads “Stop Violence!” launched in Ukraine
In late July within the framework of the National Campaign to Combat Violence against Women and Family Violence “Stop Violence!” big-boards and city-lights with social ads against domestic violence were launched in Kyiv, Simferopol, Yalta, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Odesa and Kharkiv. These ads call upon women not to keep silent if they suffer from violence, but to call the “hot line” phone number 8 800 500 33 50 for assistance
(31 July, 2009)
EU economic mood indicators recover
In July the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) for the EU and the euro area improved further, registering the fourth consecutive increase in both series since the trough in March.
(31 July, 2009)
European Commission announces EIDHR calls for proposals for Ukraine and Belarus
The European Commission is seeking proposals for two EIDHR Country-based Support Schemes with financial assistance from the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights 2009 Annual Action Programme. The deadline for submission of proposals is 9 November 2009.
(11 August, 2009)
2009 selection results for the Jean Monnet Programme
The final list of proposals recommended for Community funding under the LLP Jean Monnet Programme, Key Activity 1 was adopted by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency on 19 June 2009. The project of DONETSK STATE UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT Module “European social policy and models of social partnership” EU Political and Administrative Studies is among recommended proposals.
(26 August, 2009)
European Union Launches Twinning Project “Support to the Academy of Judges of Ukraine“
The Twinning Project “Support to the Academy of Judges of Ukraine” is aimed to support the creation of a national system of judicial training in order to establish an efficient, transparent and predictable justice, as well as an effectively functioning court system. The Project started in July 2009 and will last 24 months.
(16 September, 2009)
European Mobility Week: Improving City Climates
From 16 to 22 September 2009, hundreds of European towns and cities will participate in the eighth edition of European Mobility Week and invite their citizens to a wide range of activities promoting sustainable mobility. The 2009 campaign theme – Improving City Climates – underlines the importance of local level efforts to tackle climate change and improve quality of life through the promotion of alternative transport modes to the car such as cycling, walking, and public transport as well as schemes such as car-sharing and car-pooling.
(16 September, 2009)
EU is coming out of recession but uncertainty remains high
On the 14th of September the European Commission published its interim economic forecast according to which the economic situation has improved since the second quarter, pointing to a better growth outlook for the second half of the year.
(16 September, 2009)
José Manuel Barroso re-elected as President of the European Commission
The European Parliament has approved the appointment of José Manuel Barroso as President of the European Commission for a second term. Mr Barroso was elected by 382 votes in favour, 219 against and 117 abstentions in a vote held by secret ballot on Wednesday.
(16 September, 2009)
UNICEF and EU launch project aimed to support children in difficult life circumstances
Today Khmelnytsky Oblast State Adminsitration hosted presentation of the project “Development of Gatekeeping Policies and Systems for Institutionalized and Other Vulnerable Children”. Khmelnytsky Oblast State Adminsitration is the main partner of the project. Duration of the project is two years, and it is co-funded by the European Union and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
(17 September, 2009)
Foreign ministers discussed Southern Caucasus
On the 15th of September the EU foreign ministers discussed issues including Afghanistan, Iran and the Southern Caucasus. The discussions on the Southern Caucasus aimed to move the process forward and take concrete initiatives, for example free trade agreements within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.
(17 September, 2009)
How well do you know the EU’s neighbours? – Take the EU quiz!
“Who is the French footballer of Algerian descent who led the French team to win the World Cup in 1998?” or “Which country claims to be the birthplace of wine with its vineyards below the Caucasus Mountains?” Do you know the answers to these questions? If you want to test your knowledge of the European Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood countries, take the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Interactive Quiz on the European Commission’s website.
(17 September, 2009)
EU agrees its position for Pittsburg summit
EU leaders concluded that the G-20 should reaffirm its determination to continue implementing coordinated policy measures in order to develop the basis for sustainable growth and to avoid a repetition of the financial crisis. Efforts must be maintained until recovery is secured. Overall support to the EU economy in 2009 and 2010 is projected to amount to around 5 percent of GDP.
(21 September, 2009)
Barroso: Edge back from the abyss - It’s time to deliver on climate change
Climate change is happening faster than we believed only two years ago. Continuing with business as usual almost certainly means dangerous, perhaps catastrophic, climate change during the course of this century. This is the most important challenge for this generation of politicians.
(21 September, 2009)
European Commission overhauls its website for third countries’ exporters
The Export Helpdesk has recently launched its revamped website to facilitate market access from third countries to the EU. Besides information on import tariffs, import requirements and trade statistics, the site now offers detailed information on the preferential arrangements in place between the EU and developing countries.
(22 September, 2009)
International exhibition of the Palette of Freedom art-project
From September 24th till October 7th, 2009 the cultural centre ArtLine with support of the Delegation of the European Commission in Ukraine presents an exhibition of the international art-project the Palette of Freedom. The project unites artists from Italy, France, Sweden, Hungary, Bulgaria, Israel, Americas, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Ukraine and other countries.
(23 September, 2009)
EU Budget 2008 – Stable funding in unstable times
In a year marked by exceptional economic turbulence, the 2008 EU budget continued to provide stable funding without increasing the financial burden on Member States. The 2008 financial report presented by the Commission on the 22nd of September shows how a record 40% of the 2008 budget’s €116.5 billion was invested in measures linked directly to jobs, growth and competitiveness.
(23 September, 2009)
EU-funded training programme to contribute to civil servants understanding of ENP
On October 8th, 2009, training on ENPI issues for the staff of the Parliamentary committees for European Integration and Foreign Affairs will be organized at the premises of Verhovna Rada of Ukraine. This training will contribute to civil servants and politicians’ better understanding of European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and Ukrainian Government’s procedures of work with European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI).
(7 October, 2009)
EIB launches loans for SMEs from EU’s Eastern neighbours
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank of the European Union, is launching a lending facility via other financial institutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU’s eastern neighbours.
(7 October, 2009)
Sakharov Prize 2009: MEPs decide on shortlist of three
The three finalists for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which the European Parliament awards each year to democracy and human rights campaigners, are Palestinian gynaecologist Izzeldin Abuelaish, Eritrean writer and political prisoner Dawit Isaak and Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Oleg Orlov and Sergei Kovalev on behalf of MEMORIAL and all other human rights defenders in Russia.
(7 October, 2009)
EU remains leading activist in efforts to achieve universal abolition of death penalty
The EU considers the death penalty to be a cruel and inhuman punishment, which represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity. In its efforts against the death penalty, the EU is actively supported by states from all regions of the world. The EU encourages public debate, strengthening public opposition and putting pressure on retentionist countries to abolish the death penalty, or at least introduce a moratorium as a first step.
(9 October, 2009)
Next round of EU-Ukraine negotiations on FTA to be held on 7-11 December 2009
Delegations of the European Commission and of Ukraine met during the week of 5 to 9 October in Brussels for the 8th round of EU-Ukraine FTA negotiations. Both sides welcomed the constructive spirit in which discussions were held and which allowed for progress in several negotiation chapters. The EU and Ukraine moved one step closer to creating a Free Trade Area which should provide new opportunities for trade and investment, and help bring the Ukrainian economy closer to the EU.
(12 October, 2009)
220 Civil Society Organisations invited to Eastern Partnership Forum
The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Civil Society Forum (CSF), has recommended to the European Commission to invite representatives of 220 organisations to participate in the first gathering of the EaP Civil Society Forum in Brussels on 16-17 November.
(14 October, 2009)
400 rural communities proved that working together is more efficient
Steering Committee of the joint EU/UNDP Community Based Approach to Local Development Project (CBA) gathered for the 2nd annual meeting to hear about the progress and results of the second year of Project’s activities aimed at mobilization of 1000 local communities and improvement of the living standards in rural areas.
(16 October, 2009)
EU-funded training programme to contribute to civil servants understanding of the ENP
On October 19th, 2009, training on ENPI issues for the staff of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction of Ukraine will be organized at the premises of the Ministry. PAUCI Foundation will organize 12 trainings for civil servants on ENPI issues by February 2010 to widen awareness and improve using of opportunities of this European Union’s instrument by Ukrainian governmental institutions.
(19 October, 2009)
EU-funded Twinning project on Veterinary Services to hold opening press conference
The project intends to contribute to the Ukrainian public health protection by strengthening the food safety control system. It is expected that this improvement on EU food standards will improve general product quality in Ukraine and therefore facilitate the ability to export animal products like meat, milk products, eggs and fish to the EU.
(21 October, 2009)
Discussion of the situation in the milk market and decisions on new measures
The beginning of this week in Brussels was primarily devoted to the urgent situation in the milk market. The Commission presented its quarterly report on the situation in the milk market. As expected, the analysis showed that it is beginning to stabilise, even if the situation is still serious.
(22 October, 2009)
TEMPUS Information Days in Ukraine
The National Tempus Office in Ukraine (NTO) in close cooperation with the Delegation of the European Commission to Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has announced the registration for the Tempus Information Days. Tempus InfoDays will provide an opportunity to raise awareness among higher education institutions of the possibilities offered by the European Educational Programs: Tempus, Erasmus Mundus and Jean Monnet.
(23 October, 2009)
New EU foreign service - European External Action Service
One of the innovations of the new Lisbon Treaty is the creation of a new European External Action Service (EEAS), intended as a diplomatic corps that will oversee not only Europe’s huge aid and humanitarian budget but also relations with countries around the world. At the head of this will be the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy who will also be a European Commission Vice-President.
(29 October, 2009)
Civil Society Forum strengthens the Eastern Partnership
More than 200 Civil Society representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, the EU Member States, international organizations and networks as well as third countries are gathering in Brussels on 16-17 November for the first Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. The Forum demonstrates the EU’s commitment to take on board the views and ideas of people of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. The Forum will work on recommendations to EaP ministers who will be holding their first working meeting on 8th December, in particular on priorities for work next year in the EaP multilateral platforms.
(16 November, 2009)
Top EU posts filled
At a press conference on Thursday evening the names of the individuals, appointed to the three top posts discussed at the informal summit between the EU’s heads of state and government, were presented. Herman Van Rompuy was appointed permanent President of the European Council, Catherine Ashton was appointed High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Pierre de Boissieu Secretary-General of the Council Secretariat.
(20 November, 2009)
EU-funded healthcare Project discusses project results
On 19 November 2009, the team leader of the EUProject “Support to secondary health care reform in Ukraine”, Ms. Oxana Abovskaya, met the Head of Zhytomyr Oblast Council, Mr. Franzus Vitaly. The meeting there was discussion of project outputs in Zhytomyr Oblast (one of the pilot regions for the project) and perspectives for further implementation of the Project recommendations on the reorganisation of the local healthcare facility network.Overcoming obstacles to implementing the models developed by the Project were also discussed.
(23 November, 2009)
A milestone in the work on climate change: Environment Council ahead of Copenhagen
EU environment ministers undertook a final review of positions and strategies ahead of the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December at an extra Environment Council meeting on 23 November in Brussels.
(24 November, 2009)
Seminar on Competition Policy for the Ukrainian Journalists
A seminar “Competition policy: action for harmonisation with EU standards” will be organized for journalists within the EU-funded Project “Harmonisation of the Competition and Public Procurement Systems in Ukraine with EU standards” on November 26-27 at the premises of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine. The organizers intend to provide the Ukrainian journalists specializing in economic, legal and trade-related aspects with a good opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the foundations of the EU competition policy and law and compare it with the Ukrainian competition rules.
(24 November, 2009)
EU marks 20 years of Child Rights Protection and looks ahead
The world celebrated on 20 November the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – the most universally ratified human rights treaty.The Convention is the first international legally binding instrument establishing minimum standards for the protection and safeguarding of a full range of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of all children around the world. The internal policies of the EU and its external relations are based on the full respect and promotion of the Convention’s principles. This anniversary is an opportunity to recognise the progress achieved in the promotion and protection of children’s rights, but also to reflect on remaining challenges to enable children all over the world to fully enjoy their rights.To highlight the joint commitment to the principles of the UNCRC, the European Commission, UNICEF and UNRIC will jointly mark the 20 anniversary of the adoption of the Convention.
(25 November, 2009)
EU-funded training programme to contribute to civil servants understanding of European Neighbourhood
Three training sessions will take place this week in Kyiv within the project “Training and briefing on ENPI issues in Ukraine”, that Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation Foundation PAUCI implements with funding from the European Union.
(25 November, 2009)
EU-Eastern Europe: Towards a partnership in Energy Efficiency
The Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership will be launched during a donor conference, jointly organised by the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the EU, on 26 November in Stockholm. The Partnership will promote investment in energy efficiency in the Eastern Partnership region, starting in Ukraine with a particular emphasis on the district heating sector. Donors will make pledges for a Fund to support the Partnership in its objectives, which will serve to leverage much larger sums lent by the International Financial Institutions. The European Commission is ready to support the initiative by: contributing €10 million to complement Ukraine’s own contribution to the Fund; finance projects under the Initiative, from the Neighbourhood Investment Facility; help mobilise actions under the initiative through the Covenant of Mayors; and contribute to creating the conditions for investment by assisting the necessary legislative and policy reforms under the INOGATE energy programme.
(25 November, 2009)
Commissioners designate for the next Commission
Following the election of the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in September, and the naming of the High Representative / Vice President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton, last week, all Member States have now nominated Commissioners designate. President Barroso will now proceed with the allocation of portfolios. Hearings at the European Parliament will then take place in January before the College of Commissioners as a whole will be subject to a vote of approval by the European Parliament.
(26 November, 2009)
TRACECA aviation and emission trading system seminar, Istanbul, 14-15 December 2009
TRACECA, an EU Funded project implemented in 9 beneficiary countries, is pleased to announce the seminar onaviation environment and emission trading system (ETS) which will take pace on 14-15 December 2009 in Istanbul. This event takes on one of Europe’s toughest challenges, namely the inclusion of aviation space into emission trading system and EU’s policy on climate change.
(27 November, 2009)
Luc Van den Brande set for talks on Eastern Partnership with local and political leaders
Following the invitation of the Crimean delegation, which participated in the Open Days last October, CoR President Luc Van den Brande travels to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine) on 26-28 November, pursuing his political agenda to forge closer relations between regional and local authorities from Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries and the Committee of the Regions (CoR).
(27 November, 2009)
President Barroso unveils his new team
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, today announced the portfolios responsibilities for the next Commission. The President has held detailed consultations with all the Commissioners-designate in order to assign the right jobs to the right people. The President believes that this team can deliver the agenda for change he set out in the political guidelines he presented in September, following his nomination by all 27 Member States and before his approval as President of the next Commission by the European Parliament.
(27 November, 2009)
9th round of EU-Ukraine free trade area negotiations took place in Kyiv
Delegations of the European Commission and the Government of Ukraine met during the week of 7 December 2009 in Kyiv for the 9th round of negotiations (the 5th round in 2009) on a deep and comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). For the first time, a draft text on an accelerated dispute settlement system for energy issues was tabled by the European Commission.
(15 December, 2009)
European Union launches Twinning Project “Support to the civil servants training in Ukraine“
The EU funded Twinning Project “Support to the Civil Servants Training in Ukraine“ is aimed at modernising current civil servants training system in Ukraine through: defining new strategic and policy framework regarding the training of officials and civil servants based on cooperation and partnership between all policy stakeholders concerned; improving organisational effectiveness of the NAPA and its four Regional Institutes of Public Administration (RIPA) (Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa); enhancing training capacity of the NAPA with a focus on the development of professional skills and attitudes of civil servants.
(16 December, 2009)
EU launches new Project for improving waste governance In six East countries including Ukraine
On Thursday, 17 December 2009, a new EU-funded regional project aimed at improving waste governance within the countries of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Region (ENPI East) will be launched in Brussels by the European Commission. The project called “Waste Governance – ENPI East” aims at through technical co-operation and support assist the partner countries in their efforts to reduce the risks arising from inappropriate management of wastes, that thereby create environmental pollution hazards to the community and to natural resources, through co-operation with, and amongst, partner states in the region. It will be implemented in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.
(17 December, 2009)
30 years of UN Women’s Rights Convention
The 30th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) provides a great opportunity to reflect about the world’s situation of women’s rights. In spite of progress in the promotion of gender equality, discriminations on the basis of gender are still pervasive in all societies. Gender equality is a chapter of close co-operation between the European Union and international and regional organisations. In particular, the European Union engages with partner countries to combat the practice of discriminatory laws. Through its financial instruments, the EU supports complementary efforts by civil society organisations, such as activities on advocacy, monitoring and support to victims.
(17 December, 2009)
EP President Jerzy Buzek to visit Ukraine
European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek will pay an official visit to Ukraine next Monday and Tuesday (21-22 December). He has been invited to Kyiv by his counterpart the Speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Mr Volodymyr Lytvyn. During the visit President Buzek will also meet with President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the leader of the opposition Viktor Janukovych.
(18 December, 2009)
EP President Jerzy Buzek concludes his visit to Kyiv
Today, Tuesday 22 December, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek concluded his official visit to Ukraine. Summarising his visit President Buzek said:” I have just concluded a successful official visit. During these two intensive days I had constructive and open exchanges-of-views with all the leading Ukrainian political figures. We discussed the state-of-play of EU-Ukrainian relations and our view of their future. In Kyiv I expressed loud and clear the solidarity of the EU with Ukraine in these difficult times of financial turmoil. I also took the opportunity to stress the necessity of free, fair and transparent presidential elections in January. Adapting those principles in this ballot will be important for the future of Ukraine.
(22 December, 2009)
In numbers: Commission leadership face grilling from MEPs
European Union legislators today began their grilling of the 26 nominees for the European Commission. In a series of hearings the candidates will face tough questions about their experience and suitability for office. Promoting economic growth and expanding the EU’s global influence are just two priorities of the incoming Commission, the first under the new Lisbon Treaty.
(12 January, 2010)
Award Ceremony on the results of the National Journalist Contest
The EU-funded project Support to the Secondary Health Care in Ukraine together with the main beneficiary, Ministry of Health, organised the National Contest for Ukrainian journalists “Changes in you may change the world”. The contest lasted 5 months from 30 July 2009 till 30 November 2009 and aimed at raising the awareness among the general population on the recommendations of the project as to the options for health care reform in Ukraine and improvement of the quality of health care as well as increasing the understanding of the role of the local authorities in organization of the health care services and assuring the quality of health care.
(12 January, 2010)
Gas Coordination Group discusses security of gas supply in the light of the current winter situation
In its first meeting in 2010, the Gas Coordination Group, under the chairmanship of the Commission, has focused on 11 January on the assessment of the situation on security of gas supply in the EU-27 and countries of the Energy Community and discussed priorities for the work of the Group in 2010.
(13 January, 2010)
Herman Van Rompuy: EU will develop a new economic strategy
Herman Van ROMPUY, President of the European Council, visited Berlin yesterday to attend a meeting with Ms Angela MERKEL, Chancellor of Germany. Speakingto journalists prior to the meeting, ROMPUY stressed “two big challenges facing us which will require the full engagement of the EU at the highest level”: tackling the economic crisis and responding to the climate change. The President said he “took the initiative to convene an informal meeting of the Heads of State and Government on 11 February, to examine these two issues”.
(14 January, 2010)
EC provides a €3 million initial aid package and launches an EU-coordinated response to Haiti
Following initial assessments of the situation on the ground, ECHO will use its fast-track relief funding to provide a €3 million initial package of humanitarian assistance. The funding will be used to meet basic needs of the stricken population including shelter and medical assistance. Funding is channelled through experienced international relief organisations.
(14 January, 2010)
EU-funded training programme to contribute to civil servants understanding of ENP
Two training sessions will take place next week in Kyiv within the project “Training and briefing on ENPI issues in Ukraine”, that Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation Foundation PAUCI implements with funding from the European Union. On January 19th, 2010, training on ENPI issues for civil servants from the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine will be organized and on January 22nd, 2010, employees of the National Commission on Energy Market Regulation will become participants of training on ENPI issues.
(15 January, 2010)
Support small firms while tackling the crisis, say MEPs and experts
Small firms have been hard hit by the economic crisis, and so must be given incentives and support, including easier access to credit, help with innovation, tax breaks and less red tape, MEPs on Parliament’s Special Committee on the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis, and experts agreed at a workshop on Monday. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), “represent the backbone of the European economy, provide most jobs and are the most creative. They therefore contribute considerably to the EU’s success”, declared Special Committee Chairman Wolf Klinz (ALDE, DE), opening the workshop on the impact of the crisis on SMEs.
(4 February, 2010)
Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on the pre-electoral situation in Ukraine
“I am following closely developments in Ukraine in the run up to the second round of presidential elections on Sunday. I welcome the commitment to the democratic process demonstrated by the Ukrainian people in the first round of elections in January. I call on all candidates to ensure that the will of the people can once more be expressed at the polls this Sunday. In the meantime I fully support the work of the election observers on the ground and of the International Election Observation Mission led by Ambassador Tagliavini”.
(5 February, 2010)
Delegation website: http://www.delukr.ec.europa.eu/home.html