On December 17, the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum held the public discussion “Eastern Partnership Summit Results: What is the “Value Added ” for Ukraine?”
During the event, representatives of the public authorities and the Ukrainian National Platform member organisations shared their views on the results of the Eastern Partnership Summit, held in Brussels on December 15, 2021. They also assessed its relevance for achieving Ukraine’s economic and political goals, particularly its European integration ambitions.
According to Natalia Forsyuk, General Director of the Governmental Office on European integration and NATO, one of the Summit’s main achievements is the EU’s financial support to restore the region’s economies and strengthen their economic resilience. In particular, within the framework of the new investment plan for the next five-year period, the EU will allocate EUR 2.3 billion to the Eastern Partnership countries. Ukraine is expected to receive the most significant funds, EUR 1.93 billion. As expected, the total investment in the region can reach EUR 17 billion.
The formal recognition of the Association Trio of Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine by the EU member countries in the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit is one of the main political results of the Summit. Another important step during the Summit was the Joint Declaration issued by the Heads of Association Trio states – Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as pointed out by Maryna Mykhailenko, the Director of the EU and NATO Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The document stipulates long-term objectives on further economic integration into the EU Internal Market and the EU membership aspirations.
The number of states that have openly condemned the aggressive actions of Russia against Ukraine has also increased this year. The leaders of the European countries said they would step up response measures in the event of further conflict escalation.
Veronika Movchan, the Academic Director of the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, praised the introduction of the investment plan within the Eastern Partnership. The plan contains quantitative goals and funds for their realisation. At the same time, the amounts provided by the EU for the Eastern Partnership countries are very moderate compared to the countries’ needs in the spheres of digital transformation, transport infrastructure and climate, in particular for achieving the challenging aim of climate-neutral Europe by 2050. Another positive aspect of the Joint Declaration is the focus on supporting SMEs.
Ruslan Havryliuk, the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine representative, stated that Eastern Partnership is significant for Ukraine in environmental and climate change issues. Therefore, an important result of the summit was the reflection in the final document of the European Green Deal adoption and the European policy refocusing to be a climate-neutral continent. In addition, the EU countries expressed their support for the Eastern Partnership countries initiatives on achieving climate neutrality, which is not included in the Association Agreement. Mr. Havryliuk indicates that the Eastern Partnership policy may be more ambitious than the Association Agreement in certain spheres.
Text Oleksandra Karapuz (Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, WG2 UNP)
Video the public discussion “Eastern Partnership Summit Results: What is the “Value Added ” for Ukraine?”, 17.12.2021
The event was organised within the framework of the project “Activities Support of the EaP SCF 2021-2023”, funded by the European Union, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.
