Connecting EU-Ukraine Civil Society

January 25, 2006.

    EESC Conference in Ukraine
    
    
    6 and 7 February 2006
    Radisson SAS, Kyiv, Ukraine
    
    Press meeting, 6 February at approx. 4 p.m.
    
    On 6-7 February 2006 the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will hold a conference entitled "Connecting EU-Ukraine Civil Society: Facing Challenges and Finding Opportunities in the Framework of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan". Around 100 participants are expected to attend, including the EESC President, 24 EESC Members, EU and Ukrainian officials and around 60 representatives of civil society organizations from all over Ukraine (CSOs). Journalists will have the opportunity to meet with panel participants on 6 February at 4 pm.
    
    The conference's key objective is to strengthen the participation of Ukrainian civil society organizations in EU value-based reforms as mandated by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The conference also seeks to support the successful implementation of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
    
    The conference reflects cooperation, dialogue and best practice sharing between EU CSOs, as represented by the EESC, and their counterparts in Ukraine in order to forge sustainable links. Dialogue between EU and Ukrainian representatives of organised civil society is a key instrument for value-added and more transparent public debate, as well as participation in the European model of society. This conference will help set out the joint objectives to be pursued in the practical implementation of the Action Plan.
    
    The following subjects will be discussed at various sessions of the conference:
    
    Civil Society in Ukraine and architecture of the EU-Ukraine relationship and Civil Society Involvement: challenges, opportunities and responsibilities for CSOs presented by reforms undertaken by the public authorities to achieve alignment with the EU;
    Connecting Civil Society Groups from the EU and Ukraine: to enhance mutual understanding, exchange practices and create stronger links between groups of employers, employees and various interests;
    Ukraine’s Transformation: turning challenges into opportunities: a deeper understanding of challenges and opportunities resulting from Ukraine’s transformation and opportunities for civil society’s development in that context.
    
    Background information:
    Following the EESC President visit to Ukraine in June 2005, the EESC’s Contact Group “Eastern European Neighbours” decided to contribute to the Commission’s assessment of civil and social dialogue in Ukraine through recommendations and people-to-people dialogue. “Concretely we want to come back to Ukraine to hold a civil society seminar with our Ukrainian counterparts and to discuss how best to go about this task”, said Ms Karin Alleweldt, Chairwoman of the EESC’s Contact Group on Eastern European Neighbours. "Without prejudging the results of this conference, we want to build up networks for regular dialogue with Ukrainian counterparts in order to pass on to them the experience we have gained in interacting effectively with the government and in creating a platform for analysing and monitoring progress in the EU-Ukraine partnership".
    For further information see press release No 76/2005.
    
    Further information on the programme are available on our website:
    http://www.esc.eu.int/sections/rex/europe/areaactivities/newneighbours/docs/kiev_programme_06_02_06_en.doc
    
    In order to contact us directly in Ukraine during the conference, please contact: Agata Berdys, EESC Press Service, Mobile Phone: 00 32 475 753 202
    
    For further information please contact:
    Karel Govaert or Christian Weger, EESC Press Office
    99 rue Belliard , B-1040 Brussels
    Tel.: 02 546 9396/9586; Mobile: 0475 753 202
    E-mail: press@esc.eu.int
    Website: http://www.esc.eu.int/press/index_en.asp