Ukraine
In view of its location, size and geopolitical position Ukraine has been a priority country within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) since its inception. The main instrument for implementing the ENP in Ukraine was the EU-Ukraine Action Plan which was adopted in February 2005 for a three-year period and extended in 2008 by one year. In June 2009, at the thirteenth EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda was adopted, replacing the Action Plan. The Association Agenda entered into force on November 24, 2009.
Both the Action Plan and the Association Agenda set out the main areas of reform as well as priority actions that Ukraine needs to implement in order to meet EU standards. The pace of implementation is indicative of the government's progress in the framework of the ENP. It is an indicator of the government's capacity to implement the EU integration priorities, introduce European standards, carry out democratic reforms and improve the well being of its citizens.
The previous Ukrainian government (2007-2010) declared European integration as one of its top strategic priorities. The current government has a new set of priorities, but the EU remains one of the most important partners of Ukraine and negotiations on a new, enhanced agreement to replace the old Partnership and Cooperation Agreement are taking place. However, analysis of recent opinion polls, the rhetoric of Ukrainian politicians as well as the nature of reporting on EU issues in the Ukrainian media shows that support for EU integration among the general public and among the political elite is declining. This trend can be partly explained by the reduced pace of reforms, relatively less attention on EU issues by the Ukrainian government and, as a result of the latter, the reduced impact of EU-Ukraine negotiations on the lives of Ukrainians.
Although the EU's importance as a key partner for Ukraine has been underlined by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, some foreign policy decisions of the Ukrainian Government such as the Kharkiv agreement, which extends the Russian Black Sea Fleet's presence in Crimea for another 25 years, prove how much relations with Russia weigh in Ukraine's international engagement.
On the domestic front, journalists and opposition politicians regularly criticise the government's use of censorship. This frustrating limitation of the freedom of speech aims at destroying political pluralism and threatens democracy. Furthermore, the lack of transparency in Ukraine's security services is also alarming. Another key element that challenges Ukraine's path towards democracy is the decision of October 2010 by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to overturn the 2004 constitutional amendments which had changed Ukraine from a presidential to a parliamentary-presidential system.
As key stakeholders in the democratisation process, civil society organisations try to ensure that the government steps up its efforts in the area of European integration. Consequently, they often insist on the importance of addressing crucial issues such as the lack of reforms, the compliance by all stakeholders with human rights and the freedom of the press.
EPD projects in Ukraine