Final Report 15 of September 2015 - 30 of March 2019

AID-121-IO-15-00004

Project name: Accurately Reflecting the -EU Association Agreement in the Media No: AID-121-A-15-00004

Prepared for USAID/Ukraine C/O American Embassy 4 Igor Sikorsky St., , Ukraine 04112

Prepared by Solidarity Fund Pl (|Fundacja Solidarności Międzynarodowej) Ul. Wołodyjowskiego 69 A 02-724 Warsaw, Poland

Table of Contents

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 2 CONTEXT UPDATE 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 KEY NARRATIVE ACHIEVEMENT 3 PROGRESS AGAINST TARGETS 10 PERFORMANCE MONITORING 10 LESSONS LEARNED 10 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 12 PROGRESS ON LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES 12 PROGRESS ON LINKS TO HOST GOVERNMENT 12 PROGRESS ON INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT 13 FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Required for Contracts Only) 13 SUB-AWARD DETAILS 14 ACTIVITY ADMINISTRATION 14 ATTACHMENTS 14

1 I. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

- UEAA or AA - Ukraine-EU Association Agreement - the “Strategy” - Strategy on Communicating the Association Agreement in Ukraine

II. CONTEXT UPDATE

The Project drew upon the priorities resulting from the current political and social situation in Ukraine in the context of the EU Association Agreement implementation and the role of media ought to play in that process within the period of 2015-2018. The Project targeted media and journalists from Southern and Eastern Ukraine, as well as it involved those from Central and Western parts of the country. The reason behind extending this Project to cover both Southern/Eastern and Western/Central Ukraine is that one of the principal underlying causes for the current political and social situation is the lack of internal integration of various parts of Ukraine since 1991, which is reflected in the diverse mentalities and socio-economic standing of the different regions, thus facilitating the manipulation of the society for political agendas. The direct beneficiaries of the Project were journalist, editors, managers and media publishers in Ukraine, interested in the role media in the understanding and informing the Ukrainian society of the opportunities, challenges and practical aspects of the Ukraine–EU Association Agreement. The indirect beneficiary of the project was the Ukrainian society which, owing to the actions planned in the project, has received objective information through news articles and broadcasts about the Ukraine–EU Association Agreement, the related obligations and opportunities, as well as the associated practical aspects affecting the life of the society. The project, Accurately Reflecting the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in Ukrainian Media, is one of the most comprehensive projects in Ukraine, which was aimed not merely at informing the Ukrainian citizens about European integration processes and the provisions of the Agreement, but also at creating a holistic attempt to communicate the goals of the Agreement through the effort of both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Special attention is focused on the regional level, where a lack of information and efficient forms of interaction on the European integration issues is felt stronger than in large cities and in the capital.

No political, socio-political negative changes intervened during the project implementation.

III. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The key task of the project was to work towards the increasing knowledge and awareness among Ukrainian citizens of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement process, opportunities, and challenges and increased quantity of balanced information about the EU/AA process, opportunities, and challenges. The first phase of project was focused on building a basic foundation of knowledge and professional skills among journalists to cover the EU/AA process and drafting the Strategy on Communicating Ukraine’s European Integration, whereas second

2 phase was mainly focused on building the capacity of journalists, government, and media experts to implement specific aspects of the Communication Strategy of European Integration of Ukraine. The Project had two separated editions. The first one lasted since 15 of September 2015 till31 of March 2017, and the second one: 31 of March 2017 till 31 of March 2019. Since the target audience of the Project are representatives of regional media, the Project goal was to assist journalists in getting to know and understanding to a greater extent the regional diversities and differences, as well as to further the integration of media and journalists from various Ukrainian regions by way of joint participation in study visits, workshops and Master Classes.

The most important achievement within the Project first edition was the development by team of Ukrainian experts Strategy of informing the society about the Ukraine-EU Association and its Implementation Plan. The Strategy clearly identified key messages, target audiences and role of the media that has to start speaking "one voice" with the government when it comes to the idea of AA Implementation. The role of media and NGOs in informing the public about the challenges and opportunities for Ukraine and the Ukrainian society, to clarify the need for reforms and changes in this context is needed in the process of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

It constituted an important success of the Project as far as the elaboration of the Strategy with the support of the Ukrainian Expert Group of the Strategy of communicating the European Integration and the Ukraine–EU Association Agreement was developed by an expert group in cooperation with an office of Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and Euroatlantic integration and Government Office for European Integration. The authors of the draft strategy also consulted EU Delegation to Ukraine, key media and non-governmental players in the field of communicating the European integration in Ukraine, all participants of the first edition of the project: 140 journalists and 30 editors of regional media. On October, 25, 2017 the Ukrainian government adopted the Communication strategy for EU integration that included about 85% of the proposals of Strategy of communicating the European Integration and the Ukraine–EU Association Agreement, elaborated in the framework of the first project edition (https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ua/news/250372214). And on April 2018 had been adopted by government the Implementation Plan: https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ua/npas/pro-zatverdzhennya- plan.

The Project was implemented by the Polish Solidarity Fund PL(Fundacja Solidarności Międzynarodowej) in cooperation with two Ukrainian NGO’s organizations: Internews-Ukraina Lion Association (Tovarystvo Leva).

KEY NARRATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

3 The participants of the first Project edition were selected by way of open recruitment, based on criteria set individually for each of the groups established by the recruitment commission, made up of experts indicated by Solidarity Fund PL, USAID and major Ukrainian partners. Project second edition participants were carefully selected from the best participants of the first edition, it was the stable group of 60 regional journalists and media.

Within the framework of the second stage of the project, two inter-related processes were taking place. First, both the draft Strategy and the Implementation Plan were segmented into six key mechanisms, the use of which stimulated creation of opportunities and strengthening capacity of journalists, the government and media experts to introduce and implement specific aspects and tasks of the Strategy in the framework of the project. These mechanisms included: 1. Press briefings with representatives of relevant ministries (with support of the Office of the Vice Prime Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration); 2. Production of multimedia materials (information-analytical explainers, infographics, success stories, motivational videos); 3. Cooperation with the Public Broadcaster (during production of multimedia materials, their publication and placement); 4. Wide support (also – by means of a grant competition) for production of materials about European integration, EU-Ukraine Agreement, especially about practical aspects of these processes; 5. Cooperation within the framework of the Coordination Platform (which was initiated during the second stage of the project); 6. For the purposes of the Strategy implementation, projects components included meetings with regional state administrations, mass media and non-governmental organizations in towns and regions of Ukraine where trainings were conducted.

1. Press briefings. In total, six briefings were held during the second phase, which were attended by 15 top officials, including: Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze (Vice Prime Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine), Volodymyr Omelian (Minsiter of Infrastructure of Ukraine), Olha Trofimtseva (Deputy Minsiter of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine on European Integration), Mykola Kuzio (Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine on European Integration), Natalia Boiko (Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine on European Integration), Natalia Mykolska (Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Trade Commissioner of Ukraine), Maksym Nefiodov (First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine), Serhii Petukhov (Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine on European Integration), Artem Bidenko (State Secretary of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine), Olena Zerkal (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on European Integration), and a number of other officials.

Key EU-Ukraine AA related topics were discussed at the briefings: state reforms in the contexts of the European integration of Ukraine, visa-free regime between the EU and Ukraine, issues related to free trade with the EU in the agricultural sphere, European integration and infrastructure, Ukraine’s approximation to European environmental standards, energy efficiency

4 and energy independence of Ukraine, anticorruption reform in Ukraine, trade and development of Ukrainian exports, public procurements reform, reform in the sphere of justice, relevant information policy of Ukraine, and challenges related to Ukraine’s implementation of the Association Agreement. These events were attended by 40 regional media outlets (1–2 persons from each outlet) whereas the number of journalists present at each briefing changed depending on the topic. In total, participants expressed a high opinion about these events and a possibility to participate in them. Based on the results of briefings, dozens of publications were prepared that provided additional information for wide audiences of citizens about individual aspects of implementation of the Agreement. 2. Production of multimedia materials. For the purposes of achieving the goals of the project, a number of multimedia materials were prepared, which are conventionally divided into three blocks. • success stories that were published in the form of videos, articles, and photo reports. In total, fourteen materials were published in this block. Topics of the stories are rather diverse. Generally, the stories developed within the framework of the project that are dealing with the issues of European integration and individual priorities of the Agreement were seen by more than 74, 000 persons on Facebook, and more than 80 publications about them were made in regional mass media. • The second block of the multi-media component includes infographic materials. In total 16 infographic materials were prepared, for examples: European education possibilities for school and university students; Waste disposal and environmental situation in Ukraine; EU4Business helping small and medium business. These materials were viewed by more than 42, 000 individuals, and they were also published or shared by other means in regional and other media outlets more than 110 times. • The third block – motivational videos. Four videos were produced, and the most successful is the Preserve Diversity video about importance of tolerance and importance of diversity in the society. The video got almost 100, 000 views on Facebook, more than 1, 100 likes and 460 shares. The other important element within the scope of this project component is cooperation with the Public Broadcaster. Cooperation with the National Public TV and Radio Company of Ukraine was one of the priorities in the work of the second stage of the project. That is why representatives of the Public Broadcasting were involved already at the stage of the content planning and production, which fact created possibilities for more efficient use of the resources of both civil society sector and TV channels that are interested in promoting the European agenda.

3. Trainings as one of the basic forms of project implementation demonstrated their efficiency and compliance with the organizational format. Every training session, 10 implemented (each one organized in different town in different region: Kropyvnyckyj, Vinnytsa, Zaporizhia, Xarkiv, Mariupol, Chernihiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi) was based on a three- component scheme – expanding the overall worldview of participants, providing them with the necessary theoretical knowledge, and converting the received knowledge into practical skills. Theoretical panels of the trainings were aimed at providing deeper information to the participants about individual spheres of application of the Association Agreement (such as environment,

5 safety of food products, exports of agricultural products, etc.), and other spheres that are important for European integration: fight against corruption, decentralization, inclusive education, election law reform, etc. As a result of such theoretical classes and due to the selection of leading experts, the participants received first-hand information about progress in different spheres – those related to the Association Agreement as well as beyond it, but without which the reforms envisaged by the Agreement would be not very effective. Every editorial office received a real-life newsworthy story together with some primary set of facts. All this had a direct impact also on the overall increase of the quantity and quality of materials about European integration at a regional level. The best indicator is demonstrated by Kirovohrad Oblast where one of the regional outlets – First City Newspaper – not only increased the number of texts about European topics but they also created a newspaper inside the newspaper where 2–3 pages out of 20 were dedicated only to the Association Agreement and European integration (with analysis, infographics, and even comics). Thus, the number of materials on European integration topics increased by one third in this oblast. High indicators were demonstrated also by Cherkasy Oblast. As of today, this topic is covered in nearly 25% materials whereas in 2017 the share was below 5%. The growth is typical both for the Internet (InfoMist website) and for television (namely, VIKKA channel). Also, over the last year one can notice the growth of interest for European topics in Luhansk regional media outlets. The number of materials in Luhansk Oblast has increased by 20%. In Mariupol online media outlet, Mariupol Town Website. It is mentioned that while in only three such materials were published in 2017, in 2018 their number exceeded 20. At present, the outlet continues working with these topics.

5. 10 Meetings in Regional State Administrations (RSAs) and with Regional mass media/NGOs in following towns: Kropyvnyckyj, Vinnytsa, Zaporizhia, Xarkiv, Mariupol, Chernihiv, Ivano- Frankivsk, Lviv, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi. The experience of implementation of the first stage of the project and assessment of the second stage goals prompted the project team to initiate regular meetings with representatives of local authorities – in the first place, with RSA officials – since they are mostly responsible for providing information about European integration at the local level. Such meetings (as an element of systemic work) to a certain extent present unique experience for such projects because they enable us to encompass all key stakeholders of the process. Such meetings became a special mechanism of additional communication not only between the project participants and the authorities, but also facilitated communication of local journalists, activists and representatives of the non-governmental sector (dealing with the issues of European integration and sharing knowledge about it) with governmental organizations. In many cases, this enabled them to improve horizontal communication channels at the regional level, which in general will facilitate more efficient activities for communication on European integration.

6. The Project proposed different study visits to the participants: in Lithuania, Estonia and Belgium.

Within the visit to Lithuania the participants learned about the European integration reforms implemented in Lithuania and ways of their implementation, got acquainted with the standards,

6 mechanisms and procedures of European institutions based on experience of Lithuania and learned about the country's experience in the field of information policy regarding European integration. The main aim of the visit was to show Lithuania's path to EU membership, the processes of transformation that took and still take place since the restoration of independence and until nowadays, as well as the basic principles and rules of the functioning of power, local self-government, mass media, business and civil society in Lithuania within the framework of EU membership. Within the visit to Estonia the participants learned about the experience of Estonia in the field of information policy on European integration, studied the issues of European integration reform in Estonia and a bit closer acquainted with Estonian culture and traditions. The key topic of the trip was the issue of e-governance in Estonia, their experience and opportunities for Ukraine to develop this direction. How the Estonian media are working, the participants of the visit saw an example of the Estonian Adjacent Broadcasting Company and the largest Estonian newspaper Postimees, the Estonian Public Broadcasting Company (ERR). The weekly educational program also included visits to the Parliament, the Embassy of Ukraine in Estonia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, the Estonian Center for the , the Network of Estonian Non-Governmental Organizations and the University of Tallinn.

As the study visit to Belgium was implemented during the first and the second edition there is a combine description of both visits. The Brussels visit program involved an overview of the structure of EU institutions, the rules of its functioning, the procedure connected to the Association Agreement, meetings with officials from the European Commission, members of the European Parliament, selected Embassies of EU Member States, the East Stratcom Task Force, Ukrainian delegation to the EU.

7. Competition for stipends: A one-off competition for stipends was provided on a competitive basis to Ukrainian regional journalists, participants of the project, to publish and distribute articles, print materials, info-graphics, television and radio reports, success-stories on EU- integration and other reporting on Ukraine’s European integration and impact of reforms on citizens’ everyday lives, especially at the local level.

An open call for proposals had been announced on November 2017 and 15 grantees had been selected by the Competition for stipends committee. Prior to publishing/broadcasting, each piece had been evaluated and adjustments had been suggested to grantees quality according to criteria and journalistic principles (balance of views from a variety of stakeholders; professionally competent production values; balanced analysis; journalistic ethical standards are observed; material is focused towards the relevant audience etc).

Winning media/journalists during the implementation of their project were received grants at a value of $2000-5000 for program/programs, and/or a series of texts. Competition for stipends aimed to develop accurate, balanced and reliable storytelling on topics related to Ukraine-EU relations, Association Agreement, the European integration process and ensured the fulfilment of the objective general: Increased technical knowledge and professional capacity of Ukrainian journalists to cover and communicate the EU/AA process, opportunities and challenges,

7 including the Ukrainian context and regional dimension. 176 media materials within the Stipends component regarding the practical aspects of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, namely gender issues, transport, energy, exports to EU countries, trade relations, etc.

The Project first edition offered a wealth of activities for journalists, editors and managers:

1. Workshops: Trained 140 journalists from across Ukraine through 7 workshops in Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Poltava, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, and Kharkiv (+ 1 day long visit in Slov’ansk), Odessa; so as to ensure the coverage of key regions of Eastern, Southern, Central and Western Ukraine. The workshop programmes involved information on EU, its functioning and institutions and sources of information; information about the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, challenges, responsibilities and changes that it poses for the Ukrainian society; information regarding the most important reforms that Ukraine must go through in the context of the Association Agreement and their practical consequences for the Ukrainian society; tasks and role of the media and journalists within this context. Interactive technologies was employed during the workshops with journalists. 2/ Master Class: the project provided for the completion of 3 rounds of Master Class for 10 (each round) publishers/ managers from various media (print newspapers, on-line newspapers, radio stations, Internet radios, television) from all over Ukraine. Each round of Master Class was held in a different Ukrainian city (Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Sloviansk/Kramatorsk). The workshop programme involved in-depth information on EU, its functioning and institutions and sources of information; information about the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, challenges, responsibilities and changes that it poses for the Ukrainian society; information regarding the most important reforms that Ukraine must go through in the context of the Association Agreement and their practical consequences for the Ukrainian society; tasks and role of the media within this context. The key element of the Master Class was training to draft a preliminary project on programme strategy for the participants' own media, with account of the above aspects, along with a plan of its implementation agenda. 22 programme strategies have been developed. 3/ Competitions for regional journalists: competitions for journalists working for the regional media had been relaunched 7 times. The journalists from various Ukrainian regions to continuously focused on issues related the EU/AA and ensured the fulfilment of the objective general: Increased technical knowledge and professional capacity of Ukrainian journalists to cover and communicate the EU/AA process, opportunities and challenges, including the Ukrainian context. Within 7 competitions , 242 journalists submitted to the Competition Commission content published/aired dealing with the topic of challenges and opportunities for Ukraine in connection with the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, including in Ukrainian regions, European integration, experiences with European integration in other EU countries, including in Poland. The Competition Commission selected 18 winners who were awarded by equipment. 4. Competition for stipends for regional media: a one-off competition addressed to Ukrainian regional/local media from various Ukrainian regions. 14 winning media received grants at a value of USD 50000 in total. The main criterion for selecting grant beneficiaries was the

8 submission by applicants of a project dedicated to the above-mentioned topic, along with a budget and a plan specifying when and where the materials will be published/aired.

5. Study visits to Poland and Brussels: Study visit in Poland, 7 days long was organized under the project. Visit in Poland for 10 journalists from regional media: the condition for participation was to participate actively in one of workshops and if possible to take part in one of competitions for journalists. Study visit in Poland (in Warsaw and one of the regions of Poland: Wielkopolska) was geared toward specific subjects and was tailored to the needs of participants. The visit program coverd: Topics regarding the transformation period reforms in Poland and the methods of their implementation, examples: small and medium business, media and civil society, local government, transparency of the authorities, media and civil society; agrarian reform/purchase of land, access to information. Program included also: discussions on Polish information policy regarding the Association Agreement and European integration in Poland, including for media and for planning media strategies, along with examples of this type of programs and information campaigns; Meetings regarding the main Polish reforms in selected areas.

To sum up, the first and second phase of the project achieved the following results:

First edition: • At least 200 regional journalists took participation in all activities • Published or broadcasted 420 media materials on the EU/AA process in Ukraine in local media; • Trained 30 editors and publishers in EU/AA coverage; • Hosted 6 competitions for the best article/broadcast on the EU/AA by journalists from across Ukraine; and • Convened journalists, media experts, and the Vice Prime Minister’s office that drafted and launched a Strategy on Communicating the European Union Association Agreement in Ukraine (the “Strategy”). • Hosted Grand Competition for regional media from various Ukrainian regions. 14 best editorial teams had prepared and realized projects and programs developed under the grants. • Organized 7 day long study visit in Poland (Warsaw and various regions of Poland) for 10 best journalists from regional media. • Organized 7 day long study visit in Brussels for 10 best editors and publishers from regional media.

The second edition: • 60 representatives of TV, radio, online and printed regional media; • Published or broadcasted 446 media materials on the EU/AA process in Ukraine in local media; • 6 press-briefings with the representatives of Government Office for European and Euro- Atlantic Integration in order to monitor the implementation of the Strategy of

9 communicating Ukraine's European integration and better understanding of the concept of the EU-Ukraine relations by journalists. • 10 specialized workshops for journalists with leading Polish and Ukrainian experts to get more accurate understanding of the Eurointegration issues and the Association Agreement • 10 promo events – discussions with representatives of local authorities, public activists and the media and presentations of Communication Strategy in the regions • 3 study visits to Belgium, Estonia and Lithuania • Competition for stipends – 15 regional media outlets got the financial support for the implementation of their media projects • Production of media materials on successes stories (14 items) infographics with short explainers (16 items) and motivational PSAs (4 items) in fields related to EU integration in regions: energy efficiency, waste management, home owners association, small and medium enterprises, decentralization etc. • Several meetings of Consultation Platform with the representatives of government, Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, media experts and public activists in order to establish an effective dialogue and cooperation within the framework of the process of communicating Ukraine's European integration in Ukrainian society.

IV. PROGRESS AGAINST TARGETS

The activity remained on track through the life of award. All the set targets met. See the Evaluation and Monitoring Report attached.

V. PERFORMANCE MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

Within the project implementation period regular tracking of project progress was conducted in order to make adjustments and improvements in project implementation process. Thus, there were monthly reviews of the events conducted within the framework of the project, namely workshops and briefings. After each event it was held a review session with project team. There were feedback forms processed and revised as well as general overview conducted. Such activities added up to understanding of project team performance as an implementing organization extracting lessons learned for upcoming events and future initiatives within the framework of current project and future ones. Organization is also facilitating the professional development of the staff and providing them with better tools and techniques for improving their functions with the help of various workshops, trainings, conferences. Management of the organization also provides the assessing and understanding of general performance of the organization and respectively improve management systems, organizational structuring and the quality of procedures, introducing new business process.

VI. LESSONS LEARNED

10 The project demonstrated clear positive outcomes, it also discovered a number of problems that still need to be solved. Such solution is not possible without efficient cooperation between the state and the non-governmental sector. Another part of the project elements requires more systematic application and expansion in order to achieve full-fledged effect from their implementation.

Among other things, press briefings have demonstrated that they are a rather efficient tool for creating concentrated newsworthy stories on specific issues related to European integration, and six comprehensive briefings held in 2018 involving key persons from the government demonstrated the possibilities offered by such format. It is important to facilitate organization of such events outside the framework of the project, and gradual transformation of the instrument of press briefings into a regular element of communication work of governmental organizations with regard to European integration.

Trainings demonstrated their efficiency as a comprehensive instrument for encouraging regional journalists to develop deeper interest and deal with the European integration issues, in the first place – the issues related to the Association Agreement. At each stage of the project, trainings demonstrated an increase of the number of publications on the Agreement at the regional level having increased the coverage with such materials of the basic target audiences in accordance with the Communication Strategy goals. Although the results of the second stage of trainings demonstrated a lower growth of these indicators, but it is important that these changes are typical for central and eastern oblasts of Ukraine that for a long time experienced impact of the Russian anti-European propaganda and publication of destructive myths both about European integration in general and about the Agreement in particular. The uniquely designed model of trainings that was offered within the framework of the project requires further support and sharing.

Conducting training within the framework of two stages of the project brought yet another important result. A crucial position when forming a list of training participants from among journalists was ensuring representation of the maximum number of regions. This was based on the fact that preliminary analysis (before the beginning of implementation of the stages) of the situation with the European integration issues showed that before 2014, an interregional cooperation of journalists, their knowledge about other regionals of Ukraine, about specific aspects of perception of European integration is other regions – all this was based mostly on theoretical knowledge (and sometimes – also bias), which were often loosely related to the real state of play. Even the participants selected within the framework of the project almost never visited other regions: for instance, journalists from the east of Ukraine did not visit Ivan- Frankivsk, Chernivtsi or Lviv, while journalists from western oblasts did not visit Mariupol, Zaporizhzhia or Sloviansk. Holding trainings in different regions would enable journalists to have a more comprehensive view of the situation with European integration in other regions, understand their specific features, get deeper knowledge of successful regional European integration cases (coverage of which could provide an additional impetus for their work in other regions).

11 At the same time, it should be mentioned that to a certain extent such networks are spontaneously established by journalists that are dealing specifically with the European integration topics as well as the problems related to implementation of the Association Agreement. In its turn, this often makes mass media where they work and mostly publish their materials a kind of the gravitation center with regard to this topic at the regional level. Such situation developed both ad hoc and as a result of ongoing educational activities (also those of donor organizations). However, in the current situation, these established centers should be supported at the national level. These are journalists/mass media that can become efficient partners of the state in information campaigns (publication of special information addenda in regional mass media. Publication of series of articles, organization and participation in thematic competitions) both at a tactical (for instance, provision of information support for important events such as Europe Day) and at a strategic level on the European integration issues, and in explaining specific features of the Association Agreement to the public.

VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

Activities under this agreement met the categorical exclusion justification as specified in DCN: 2017-UKR-003. VIII. PROGRESS ON LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES

Not applicable.

IX. PROGRESS ON LINKS TO HOST GOVERNMENT

Since the one of key achievements of the first phase of the project was the elaboration of the Strategy with the support of the Ukrainian Expert Group of the Strategy of communicating the European Integration and the Ukraine–EU Association Agreement, Project team continued to cooperate with key stakeholders and governmental authorities. It was developed a working group consisted of the Project experts, representatives of office of Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and Euroatlantic integration and Government Office for European Integration. The working group was working on the developing of the implementation and action plan for the Strategy. On October, 25, 2017 the Ukrainian government adopted the Communication strategy for EU integration that included about 85% of the proposals of Strategy of communicating the European Integration and the Ukraine–EU Association Agreement, elaborated in the framework of the first project edition. And on April 2018 had been adopted by government the Implementation Plan.

One of the most important and valuable activity proposed during the 2d project edition was organization of the series of briefings in cooperation with Office of Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (VPM) and Ukraine's Governmental office (GO) on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. This activity had been based upon the draft EU Integration Communication Strategy and its draft Implementation Plan prepared under the previous phase of the present project. The key value of regular government briefings for regional media is that they significantly reduce the distance between government officials and

12 Ukrainian journalists in the regions with regard to communicating Ukraine's EU integration issues. It is also important to bring regional journalists to Kyiv so that they could talk with government officials directly in order to create an opportunity for greater multiplication effect. Successful implementation of briefings is possible thanks to personal support for the project and for briefings of Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Ivanna Klymush-Tsintsadze. She took personal part in all briefings, talking openly and competently with journalists. The organizational involvement of her Office in briefings allows the attendance of ministers or high-level representatives from key ministries for implementation of reforms.

At the same time, attempts to implement provisions of the Action Plan and achieve the goals of the Strategy demonstrated significant discrepancies between the applicable legislation in the sphere of state procurements and the requirements of comprehensive information activities. Whereas the processes of communication and provision of information are complete information campaigns where different components of delivering key messages to the audience are mutually coordinated (channels, time, implementers, etc.), the current Ukrainian normative and legal framework in the financial sphere makes implementation of such campaigns almost impossible.

One of the key ideas of the Strategy was to establish organizational mechanisms for improving the quality of implementation of the Strategy per se. It was planned that this would be done through the Coordination Council for Strategy Implementation. This norm was reflected also in the governmental Strategy, and in July 2018, the respective structure was established under chairmanship of the Vice Prime Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine . Members of the Council were governmental officials (at the level of the first deputy ministers), the First Deputy Head of Kyiv City State Administration, a representative of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and several civil society organizations. Furthermore, for ensuring more efficient finalization of ideas for filling the Action Plan for Implantation of the Strategy with specific activities, an Expert Group was created additionally under the Coordination Council, which consisted of representatives of governmental organizations (at the level of heads of relevant units directly responsible for implementation of information activities) and non-governmental organizations as well as experts from the projects that are already involved in communication in the sphere of European integration.

X. PROGRESS ON INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

In the project gender balance not only was kept, but even the participation of women was much higher than that of men. Among journalists participating in the activities through two editions there were 275 women and 147 men. This disproportion was also a result of the fact that in the first edition, when the recruitment was open to all activities, many more women were reported. There were 287 applications from women and only 152 from men.

XI. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Financial reports and obligations met the requirements. All reports were submitted on time. Final voucher processed.

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XII. ACTIVITY ADMINISTRATION No issues.

A. Constraints and Critical Issues

No constraints or critical issues encountered.

B. Personnel Through the life of the award there were no key personnel changes.

XIII. ATTACHMENTS

1/ List of Deliverables:

Below, the list of the “products” that were produced during the Project:

1. Strategy of communicating Ukraine's European integration and its implementation plan (Стратегія комунікування Європецської інтеграції та імплементаційний план стратегії. Проект);

2. Final Publication with texts produced by journalists from the first edition (Проект «Точне відображення угоди про асоціацію Україна-ЄС в українських медіа». Доступно про Євроінтеграцію в матеріалах учасників проекту за 2015-2016 рр.);

3. CD disc with materials produced by journalists during the first Project edition

4. Final Conference Publication (Доступно про Євроінтеграцію в матеріалах учасників проекту «Точне відображення угоди про асоціацію Україна-ЄС в українських медіа»)

5. Pendrive with materials produced by journalists during the second edition;

6. Album of photographs from the second edition of the project (Ретроспектива проекту «Точне відображення угоди про асоціацію Україна-ЄС в українських медіа» 2017-2019)

7. Experts final report (Звіт експертів щодо другого етапу проекту «Точне відображення угоди про асоціацію Україна-ЄС в українських медіа»).

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