NGOs discussed economic integration with the EU in the measurement of oriental partnership

On March 19, a meeting of the working group “Economic Integration and Cover with EU Politicians” took place in Chernihiv. During the event, representatives of NGOs – experts in transportation, cross -border cooperation and other policies covered by the activities of the second thematic platform of the Eastern Partnership, discussed and outlined the main areas of activity for 2012.

Igor Kohut, the National Coordinator of Ukraine for the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, informed the participants about the activities of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society forum. The expert recalled that European integration is primarily internal reforms in the country. That is why the creation of national platforms is important and is perceived by the EU as a “rooting” of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Civil Society. Among last year’s success of the Ukrainian national platform, I. Kohut called an increase in the level of his own examination. According to him, Ukrainian experts in 2011 successfully communicated with the European Commissioner S. Fulle, as well as foreign ministers of the European Union and provided a professional assessment of Ukraine’s European Neighborhood Policy and the EU negotiation process on the Association Agreement.

For 2012, the National Coordinator noted, the institutionalization of the Ukrainian National Platform is planned. At the same time, the platform should remain “as open as possible” to cooperate various NGOs from all regions of Ukraine that profess the principles of European integration. That is why the “system is not membership but participation”.

Within the framework of Ukraine and the EU relations, more important documents are emerging that the national platform experts need to be monitored and a professional assessment of their implementation. So, in particular, in April 2012, an eastern partnership road map should be published. The National Coordinator also recalled the importance of fulfilling the main task of the platform – to influence the policy of the Ukrainian authorities in the field of integration into the European Union.

The moderator of the meeting Andriy Kohut, the Civic Assembly of Ukraine, reminded the meeting of the working group 4 “Contacts between people”, which took place on March 10 in Lviv. Thus, key issues were discussed during the event and priorities in education, culture, volunteering and youth programs were determined. In particular, the need to recognize informal education, hold the annual Eastern Partnership Country Forum in the field of culture, solving the problem of long -term stay of international volunteers in Ukraine, etc. was emphasized.

Yuri Vdovenko, coordinator of the working group 2, stressed that the Eastern partnership is in its majority of state policy, and the civil society forum and the activities of working groups within it is rather a supporting instrument. The working group 2 is the least numerous among others. Mr. Yuri noted that 3 organizations were represented in this group at last year’s civil society forum, 2 of which were trade union. In addition, it was decided to form a working group 5 “Social Dialogue”, to which employers and union organizations will be transferred. In general, the working group 2 set themselves the task of working on issues such as the creation of free trade between the EU and the countries of the Eastern partnership, transport corridors, their development and development; Problems of small and medium -sized businesses; phytosanitary control; liberalization of the regulatory environment; competitive policy, etc. According to Y. Vdovenko, the most noticeable progress was achieved in the field of regional policy. This is how the process of creating new cross -border cooperation programs concerning the Eastern Partnership countries was launched. “

Zinova Broid, Director of the Ecosisursa State Enterprise, presented a study dedicated to the creation of a transport platform within the Eastern Partnership. Thus, according to him, in July 2011, the EU and neighboring regions of the European Commission “EU and neighboring regions: an updated approach to cooperation in the field of transport” were published, which determines the purpose of harmonization of transport policies and integration of the EU markets with neighboring countries. The document provides significant changes. According to him, Ukraine has not yet lost its “opportunities”. At the same time, the current transport policy of Ukraine and its preliminary obligations do not give grounds for optimism.

Vadim Pylypenko, Director of the International Association of Regional Development Institutions, in turn, presented a report on the effectiveness of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument and partnership, which he gives, in particular, public organizations of Ukraine and available projects.

During the discussion, the participants considered the most key and problematic issues of small and medium -sized enterprises, transport policy and cross -border cooperation, as well as outlined priorities of the group’s activities for 2012.

Note, on March 29, a meeting of the working group 3 “Environment, climate change and energy safety” will be held in Lviv. The meeting of the working group 1 “Democracy, human rights, proper government and stability” is planned for April, most likely in Kiev.

Source:http://eu.prostir.ua/