On August 06, 2026, the meeting of Working Group 1 “Democracy, Human Rights, Good Governance and Stability” of the UNP EaP CSF was held.
During the meeting, the participants heard information and discussed and summarized the survey of WG1 members on key priorities of Ukraine where EU support in 2028-34 can bring the greatest added value
Areas where EU participation can bring the greatest added value in the medium term.
It was agreed that the priority area of EU support should remain support for reforms in the area of the rule of law, protection of human rights, good governance and European integration, as well as capacity building of local governments and communities.
No less important is healthcare: restoration and modernization of medical infrastructure, development of rehabilitation, mental health, training of medical personnel, implementation of European standards and strengthening of institutional capacity of the healthcare system.
The EU can significantly strengthen the development of mental health and psychosocial support, promote veteran rehabilitation, support for IDPs, development of small and female entrepreneurship, job creation and professional retraining of the population. Supporting gender equality, implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda, combating gender-based violence and increasing women’s participation in recovery processes also remain important areas.
A separate priority should be long-term institutional support for Ukrainian civil society organizations, especially regional and local ones, with simpler funding procedures and the ability to cover institutional costs. This will ensure the sustainability of reforms, the effective use of international assistance and strengthening the capacity of communities.
The meeting participants were presented with the initiative supported in 2026 by WG1 to study the specifics of violence by active military personnel and veterans (implemented by the Women’s Perspectives Center).
It was decided to complete the work on the amendments to the Gender Equality Policy of the UNP FGS EaP by the end of 2026. The meeting participants discussed the process of working on the amendments to the Policy and further prospects for its implementation.
Thanks to Marta Chumalo for organizing and conducting the meeting.
The event was held within the project “Supporting the Activities of the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF in 2025–2026,” implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting with financial support from the European Union.
