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UKRAINE |
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UKRAINE |
CONCLUSIONS
The democratic and independent Ukraine has achieved a stable balance between painful economic reforms and social transformation in domestic policy, while combining a firm European orientation with established relations with old and new neighbours in foreign policy.
Since 1991, when Ukraine gained independence, the focus of the national renaissance has shifted from strong tendencies to decentralise to a consolidation period. As a result, new issues of “universal” culture with European standards are being introduced. European values are seen as necessary conditions for overcoming the post-communism legacy. Thus, Ukraine’s choice to move towards Europe is dictated by the long-term interests of the state.
The main priorities for Ukraine are to achieve standards for becoming a full member of the EU. This process received new impetus in June 1998, with a presidential decree on the Strategy of Integrating Ukraine into the European Union. The decree defined the main priorities for developing Ukraine until 2007, with the purpose of achieving standards for full EU membership.
In the short-term, Ukraine seeks to obtain the status of an associate member of the EU. The legal basis of the integration is the 1998 Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. The agreement directs further development of economic, social, trading, and legal systems in Ukraine in its rapprochement of the respective systems of the EU. It also legally states Ukraine’s choice to move towards Europe and confirms recognition of Ukraine’s status as an independent state by all member states. Ukrainian success in fulfilling the agreement will have due impact on Ukraine’s chance to become a full member.
Wide public awareness and support, as well as time and patience are needed to solve a range of social and economic problems. Ukraine lacks a national program to promote the benefits of European integration. The government has developed a draft of this program, and it is being widely discussed by the public. The draft envisages briefing the mass media on European issues, utilising available information resources, introducing training courses into the curricula of educational institutions and conducting surveys. Presently, however, European integration issues are a challenge for training institutions in the area of public administration. These programs must incorporate more comprehensive courses dealing with issues of Ukraine’s integration into Europe.
References
- Krawchenko, B. Comandor, 1/99. Kiev: Ukrainian Academy of Public Administration. 1999.
- Broach, Glen T. The Civil Service and Public Management Education in Ukraine. 1998.
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