“EU at a glance: how Association can work for you“ – Opening Workshop in Odessa, Ukraine

17.11.2015

On 9-13 November, 2015, Martin Stein, project manager at the Institut für Europäische Politik e.V. (IEP), implemented a successful workshop in Odessa, Ukraine, for members of Ukrainian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

The workshop was opened with an intriguing panel discussion on the scope and effects of Ukraine’s EU association. Ms Nataliia Hnydyuk, Deputy of the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine/Head of the Government Office of the European Integration in Ukraine, Prof Dr Mathias Jopp, Director of the Institut für Europäische Politik as well as Iurii Vdovenko, Member of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, gave insight into the Association process from their respective spheres of activity. The panel was moderated by Mr Anatoly Boiko, Director of the Odessa regional organization of All-Ukrainian NGO “Committee of Voters of Ukraine”.

The workshop is part of the workshop series “Civic School for Sound EU Practice” (CiSEP), a capacity building project for members of Civil Society Organizations in Ukraine that is organized by the IEP and implemented in cooperation with the Odessa regional organization of All-Ukrainian NGO “Committee of Voters of Ukraine” as well as Polissya Foundation for International and Regional Studies (Chernihiv, Ukraine). The project takes place over a two-year period in the form of a progressively structured training program in the cities of Chernihiv, Odessa and Lviv. The training cycles convey comprehensive knowledge on constituent parts and effects of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Furthermore, participants study and practice approaches for sustainable monitoring of the association process. They are instructed in methods of strategy development, monitoring, campaigning, etc.

The trainings are led by experts from administrative bodies and civil society organizations in EU member and candidate countries. The long-term project creates a sustainable network and synergies for the cooperation of participating Civil Society Organizations.

The project is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany.