European Union - Ukraine: Fostering Partnership

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This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Delegation of the European Commission to Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. Its activities include helping Ukraine develop a market economy, facilitating trade, furthering the political dialogue between the EU and Ukraine and promoting the EU to the Ukrainian people

In the autumn of 1993, a few rooms at the National Hotel were transformed into the first offices of the Delegation of the European Commission to Ukraine. Through humble beginnings, the delegation, located in the centre of Kyiv, grew strong and today counts seventy-five dedicated people from many countries, including Ukraine, of course, but also Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Finland and Belgium, to name but a few.

The EU, through its national and regional support programmes, its contributions to international institutions present in Ukraine, like the OSCE and the EBRD, and, of course, via the bilateral support of its member states, is by far the biggest donor to Ukraine. In grants, technical assistance, macroeconomic support and other funding alone, Ukraine to date has received more than 1.2 billion Euros.

This year has been special because in only a period of seven month, four commissioners (rank of ministers), Commission President R. Prodi and High Representative X. Solana visited Kyiv to show that Ukraine as a future neighbour to the enlarged EU is indeed a priority. In November, EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten visited Ukraine to discuss such issues as energy links and trade, but also democracy, rule of law, human rights and media freedom with his Ukrainian counterparts.

The Delegation has been involved in cultural and social events as well. In 2003, it orgainsed a Europe Day in Ukraine. Many people, including guests from European embassies, Ukrainian NGOs, the city administration and the Ukrainian government, were involved in the preparation and made it a huge success. More than 60,000 people came to Khreschatyk to visit the European village and get a taste of Europe. A concert in Europe Square featured thirteen bands from Europe and Ukraine and was broadcast on national TV to millions of viewers throughout the country. It was actually the biggest Europe Day 2003 celebrated anywhere in the world! Preparations for 2004 have already started, and the delegation plans to extend this event to other cities in Ukraine, because as of 1 May 2004, Ukraine will find herself on Europe's doorstep.

Also, this year's Race for Life had many participants from the Delegation. The annual race is in support of AIDS awareness and AIDS hospitals.

This year the EU adopted a new programme involving Ukraine called Wider Europe. It holds out the promise of ever-closer links between Ukraine and the EU to meet the challenges of enlargement.

The Commission is convinced that the future holds great potential for both the EU and Ukraine. With the Wider Europe programme and many Tacis programmes in full swing and more on the way, it is clear that the Delegation's involvement in Ukraine will continue to grow.

Panorama 10/2003

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