Ukrainian civil society expressed its opinion on Eastern European partnership initiative

Leading Ukrainian NGOs and think-tanks, which compose the Public council at the Ukrainian part of the EU – Ukraine Cooperation Committee, published this week their proposals to the EU`s Eastern European partnership initiative. Three pages text, signed by more than 15 influential organisations, outlined a number of practical ideas and proposals, which can be used by the European commission in the process of preparation of its communication on the Eastern partnership.

The civil society activists demand that the goal of the Eastern partnership should be defined as “step by step integration of each of the countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus) to the EU and support to the regional cooperation between themselves and between them and the EU on the basis of European standards; the best EU experience of support to EU candidate countries should be used for Eastern partners”.

Among the practical proposals Ukrainian NGOs emphasise elaboration of new joint instruments (which should substitute ENP Action plans), which should follow the example of EU Accession partnerships with the same system of benchmarks, priorities, financing sources. Support to reforms in the countries concerned should be given from the EU side on the same scale as for candidate countries, including screening of the legislation, twinning, other means to strengthen administrative capacities of public administration.

Not surprisingly a very serious attention has been paid to the issue of visa regime. The civil society activists demand to prepare roadmaps for non-visa regime for Eastern European partners similar to those, which were granted to Balkan countries. Extension of EU Mobility partnership to all the Eastern partners is requested as well.

Along with deep free trade agreements, regional cooperation and inclusion of Eastern neighbours to EU regional policy, the civil society activists propose to launch civil society dialogue using civil society facilities and other instruments similar to those, which were available for new EU member states.

Earlier Ukrainian NGOs already published a special report “Civil society in EU – Ukraine Association Agreement” in the framework of activities of Public council at the Ukrainian part of the EU – Ukraine Cooperation Committee. This report proposed to create a special body with participation of civil society players under new EU – Ukraine agreement, which will be used as an example for new agreements with all Eastern partners. This body will not only provide an additional input to EU – Ukraine dialogue, but also strengthen development of civil society as such in partner countries.

Outlining the position on practical instruments for development of Eastern partnership Ukrainian NGOs also propose to develop seven different forums for multilateral regional dialogue in the format 27+6. Besides head of states, foreign ministers and parliamentary levels, NGOs also propose Civil, Social and Regional Forums as separate platforms for dialogue of authorised representatives in the relevant areas. Also a regional dialogue on human rights and basic freedoms and even regional Human rights committee are proposed.

Talking about implementation of the Eastern partnership initiative the civil society representatives call upon EU member states to define one or some interested EU member states as leaders in different spheres and areas of cooperation. This or those countries could coordinate different programs and give impetus to more active mutual engagement of EU and partner countries. However, establishment of a special coordinator and coordinating body (with possibly Secretariat in Kiev) is considered as necessary.

The initiative of Eastern partnership launched by Sweden and Poland earlier this year faced at the beginning rather cold reception from Ukraine and particularly from researchers, analysts and public activists because of its link to the European neighbourhood policy, which is strongly rejected in that country. The initiative seemed to repeat the same mistake as the ENP by inclusion to one concept absolutely different countries with different economic and political situations, different relations with the EU and different aspirations in their internal and foreign policies. A proposal to put Ukraine as the best pupil in the class with Morocco, Algeria or even Azerbaijan made no good and could only irritate Ukrainians as well as the others.

However, the paper published by Ukrainian NGOs might be an indication of certain change in perception of this initiative. The Eastern partnership is not anymore perceived as a concept leading Ukraine away from membership agenda, as it was a case of EU neighbourhood policy. However, whether the communication of the European commission on Eastern partnership will confirms “European integration spirit” of this initiative or not remains to be seen.

Martin Wagner, for the ECC newsletter