The Annual Conference of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum UNP has started
The second day of the Conference was opened by a public discussion “The Negotiation Process on Ukraine’s Accession to the EU: Involvement and Role of Civil Society”.
Date: 31 October 2024.
Online, working languages were Ukrainian and English (with simultaneous interpretation).
Number of participants: 98.
The event aimed at discussing opportunities and challenges for public engagement in the negotiation process, identify best practices for involvement and potential utilisation of other countries’ experiences, exchange insights on civil society activities and their role in the negotiation process, and determine the most effective forms and formats for involving civil society organisations in European integration processes.
The purpose of the event is:
- to discuss the opportunities and challenges of involving civil society, including the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF, in the negotiation process for Ukraine’s EU membership;
- to define which forms of involvement of civil society organizations are most effective and which activities of the platform can be useful in this context;
- to exchange experience of civil society activities and their role in the negotiation process in countries that have joined the EU or, like Ukraine, are on the way to the EU;
- to analyze the best practices of involvement of public organizations in the process of European integration and the possibility of using experience in supporting the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
Speakers
- Olena Hrypych, State expert on Green Deal, Environment and climate change. Government Office for Coordination on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
- Liubov Akulenko, Executive director Ukrainian Centre for European Policy
- Toni Vidan, President of the European Environmental Bureau, Brussels, Belgium
- Iordanka-Rodika Iordanova, Executive Director EcoContact, Moldova
- Igor Burakovsky, Head of the Board IER (Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting)
- Anton Antonenko, Vise-President DiXi Group
The event was opened with welcoming remarks by Gurgen Petrosyan, Co-Chair of the EaP CSF Steering Committee, and Tania Marocchi, Director of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Secretariat. They emphasised the importance of European integration processes in the Eastern Partnership countries, the promotion of European values, and the EaP CSF’s efforts to support the European integration aspirations of the Eastern Partnership countries, particularly Ukraine.
Ruslan Havryliuk, National Coordinator of the UNP EaP CSF, briefly introduced participants to the conclusions and recommendations of the UNP position paper prepared in 2023, concerning the need to strengthen the role of civil society in European integration processes. Ruslan stressed that pro-European platforms are already gathering civil society organisations advocating for reforming the country on European principles and actively participating in European integration. He noted that these recommendations are becoming even more relevant, considering the need for Ukraine to swiftly achieve EU membership.
Olena Hrypych, State Expert at the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, emphasised the positive experience of cooperation between government bodies and civil society. She highlighted the importance of involving representatives from the expert civil society community in the negotiation groups, the composition of which is now at the final stage of formation. Olena noted that a unified stance of the public and authorities in advocating Ukraine’s EU membership is essential at this stage of the European integration process.
Ihor Burakovskyi, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, stressed that when discussing the negotiation process, it is about real internal changes, not merely negotiations or formal matters. Civil society organisations must work to ensure that Ukraine has stable institutions, a functioning market economy, and the capacity to fulfil obligations arising from membership. Mr Ihor remarked that civil society organisations should shift from advocacy and support for the European choice to professional activities that support the negotiation process.
Liubov Akulenko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Centre for European Policy, discussed two models for involving civil society organisations in the negotiation process, based on the experience of other countries that joined the EU. These are direct involvement (example of Montenegro) and indirect involvement (example of Serbia). In Liubov’s view, any model is valid, as long as civil society organisations themselves understand how they want to interact with the government. As for Ukraine, only time will reveal which model will be effective. In any case, civil society organisations should be granted at least partial access to negotiation documents. This will make the process more transparent, enable the media to understand what is happening, and help civil society organisations plan their advocacy activities more effectively.
Tony Vidan, President of the European Environmental Bureau, emphasised that it is not so much the tools or mechanisms for involving civil society organisations in the negotiation process that matter, but rather the motivation and capacity of civil society itself to participate. Tony noted that a crucial channel for strengthening the negotiation process is direct communication between civil society and European institutions, which unfortunately happens infrequently when it comes to civil society in candidate countries. Tony highlighted the important role of civil society, which is pro-European and holds European values, in disseminating knowledge and understanding of the European integration process within the country.
Iordanka-Rodica Iordanov from EcoContact (Moldova) underlined the essential role of civil society in European integration processes and the need to ensure adequate participation. Rodica emphasised that civil society cannot be just an observer in the process; it must also be an active participant, bringing its own vision and innovative solutions. She shared Moldova’s experience in engaging civil society, pointing out the need for strategic cooperation between government, civil society, and business, the use of digital platforms to enhance engagement, and participation in drafting regulatory acts required for EU membership, among other aspects.
Anton Antonenko, Vice-President of DiXi Group, shared his experience in involving civil society in European integration processes within the energy sector, which is currently a priority due to the challenges posed by the war. It is necessary not only to monitor but also to communicate with stakeholders both in Ukraine and the EU. Advancing energy reforms and passing legislation have taken a considerable amount of time. We need to be flexible in how we utilise the skills we possess. Anton noted that a long and challenging path lies ahead, and considering the limited resources, it is essential for civil society to be involved in the negotiation process. Now, we must utilise all our expert potential, as many of us have been engaged in the European integration process for a long time. However, it is necessary to engage in dialogue and apply critical thinking to find the best implementation paths.
The discussion was moderated by Nataliia Andrusevych, Chair of the Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment” and Coordinator of the UNP EaP CSF WG3.
The meeting was dedicated to the importance of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, discussing the role of civil society in the negotiation process, the need for political, economic, and institutional stability, and the significance of the energy transition. The speakers also highlighted the challenges faced in the negotiation process, such as bureaucracy and geopolitical tension, as well as seeing opportunities for growth and resilience. The conversation concluded with a call for continued cooperation and exchange of ideas between civil society organisations from the old and new EU member states.
Video discussion (original version)
Video discussion (version in Ukrainian)
Program discussion
The event was held as part of the annual conference of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (UNP EaP CSF), and within the framework of the project “Supporting the Activities of the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF in 2024,” funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting. Individual opinions expressed in the event the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.
