Building a multi-level governance and coordination system to make an active participant in the Strategy process

Igor Studennikov Executive Director Centre for Regional Studies, , Ukraine Member of the Executive Committee of the Danube Civil Society Forum

DANUBE FINANCING AND CAPACITY BUILDING DIALOGUE

Chișinău , 26-27 October 2017 Ukrainian part of the Danube Region Ukraine, a non-EU country involved in the EU Danube Strategy process, shares significant part of the Danube-Carpathian Region. The Ukrainian part of the Danube Region is formed by four oblasts (regions) – , Chernivetska Oblast, Ivano-Frankivska Oblast and Zakarpatska Oblast – occupying 68,100 sq km with a population of 5.9 million. Ukraine and the EUSDR – Attitude

• A tool for the sustainable development of the areas belonging to the Ukrainian part of the Danube Region.

• A factor able to accelerate Ukraine’s move towards the European integration. Ukraine and the EUSDR – Where we are now?

Ukraine has not yet become an active player in the Danube Strategy process:

• Doesn’t (co)coordinate any of the 11 priority areas; • At the official level, has not been actively involved in EUSDR key events (PAs’ meetings, annual forums); • Vertical (central government – 4 regions) and horizontal (between the 4 regions) coordination has not yet been ensured; • The poor exchange of information about EUSDR-related activities in which Ukraine is involved.

Why? • An effective coordination system of Ukraine’s involvement in the EUSDR implementation has not yet been created. • Political instability – the lack of continuity, especially at the regional level. Ukraine and the EUSDR – Success stories

Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan (, Serbia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine) adopted on 11 April 2011 in Uzhgorod, Ukraine, at the Ministerial Meeting of the Tisza River Basin Countries. Ukraine and the EUSDR – Success stories

On the way to the development of a River Basin Management Plan for the Sub-basin – Project «Joint environmental monitoring, assessment and exchange of information for integrated management of the Danube Delta region» Ukraine and the EUSDR – Success stories

A trans-boundary Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Danube Delta Sub-basin

Thematic programme for Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy (ENRTP). Ukraine and the EUSDR – Success stories – Civil society role

Public Vision of Ukraine’s Participation in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (2010)

www.crs.org.ua/data/danube_strategy/DS_UA_public_vision.pdf

Action Plan for the UE Strategy for the Danube Region: Analysis and Implementation Perspectives for Ukraine (2012)

www.crs.org.ua/data/danube_strategy/DS_UA_action_plan.pdf

ГРОМАДСЬКА ЕКСПЕРТНА РАДА при українській частині комітету співробітництва між Україною та ЄС «Strengthening Civil Society Involvement in Assisting the Government with the Implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region»

Institutional component – establishing a Ukrainian network of the DCSF

Information campaign – public hearings in Uzhgorod, Chernivtsi & Ivano-Frankivsk, September 2014, and public debates «EU Strategy for the Danube Region and Ukraine: Opportunities, Challenges and the State of Implementation», Odessa, 22 September 2014. «Strengthening Civil Society Involvement in Assisting the Government with the Implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region»

1st National Participation Day, 22 April 2015, Kyiv

International conference «Paving the Way for a Common European Future: Ukraine and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region», Odessa, 6 October 2015. 4th Annual Forum of the EUSDR, Ulm, 29-30 October 2015 Thematic workshop «Ukraine in/and the EUSDR: a Civil Society Perspective» 2nd NATIONAL PARTICIPATION DAY IN THE EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION 7-8 September 2017, Odessa-Vylkove «Strengthening Civil Society Involvement in Assisting the Government with the Implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region»

A Comprehensive Vision of Ukraine’s involvement in the Implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region www.crs.org.ua/data/danube_strategy/vision_web.pdf

www.crs.org.ua/data/danube_strategy/vision_web_en.pdf Building up a horizontal cooperation in the Ukrainian part of the Danube region

Memorandum on Cooperation in the Context of the Danube Strategy between Odessa Regional Council, Chernivtsi Regional Council, Ivano- Frankivsk Regional Council and Zakarpattia Regional Council. Ukraine and the EUSDR – Looking at near future Thank you for your attention!

CONTACT DETAILS: Centre for Regional Studies tel/fax: +380 48 719 85 36 E-mail: [email protected] www.crs.org.ua