The purpose of the project was to provide expertise and short-term training to politicians and representatives of the governmental and non-governmental sectors in Ukraine in view of Ukraine’s prospective membership in the EU and NATO.  The Bulgarian School of Politics organized a workshop for Ukrainian NGO activists and politicians to discuss with their Bulgarian counterparts the main obstacles and hurdles on the way to joining the EU and NATO.

 

Project Summary

The purpose of the project was to provide expertise and short-term training to politicians and representatives of the governmental and non-governmental sectors in Ukraine in view of Ukraine’s prospective membership in the EU and NATO.  The Bulgarian School of Politics organized a workshop for Ukrainian NGO activists and politicians to discuss with their Bulgarian counterparts the main obstacles and hurdles on the way to joining the EU and NATO.  Bulgarian experts, politicians, and university professors shared their first-hand experience and lessons learned from the past several years, during the process of Bulgaria’s accession to the EU and NATO. Nine representatives from Ukraine and eleven representatives from Bulgaria took part in the workshop, organized jointly by the BSoP and the Institute for Political and Legal Studies. It was held on 16 – 17 November 2007 in Velingrad.

Project period:

July 4, 2007 – March 31, 2008 

Project Goals
•    Providing information and expertise to Ukrainian politicians and experts regarding the procedures and various steps of the accession process to the European Union and NATO;
•    Strengthening the bilateral communication and cooperation between politicians, NGOs and experts from Bulgaria and Ukraine on the issues of regional security and cooperation in the context of the integration processes;
•    Developing a report/policy paper with practical recommendations to serve as a point of departure for Ukrainian political parties and public institutions engaged in the accession process.

Project Activities
•    Developing case studies for practical training;  
•    Preparing training materials and presentations;
•    Organizing and conducting a workshop;
•    Developing a policy paper.

Workshop topics included:
•    NATO membership and EU accession;
•    Economic Implications of the Integration Process;
•    Judicial Implications of the Integration Process;
•    Public Perceptions in the Pre-Accession and Post-Accession Period;
•    Effects of EU Integration on Democratization and Political Parties;
•    The Future of the EU: Implications for Bulgaria and Ukraine.

Project Partners
The Bulgarian School of Politics, the Institute for Political and Legal Studies (Sofia) and the Ukrainian Institute for Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Project Funding
The Project was ffinanced by the Democracy Commission of the US Embassies in Sofia and Kiev.

Project Status
Completed

Project Results
The results of organizing the workshop were practical training and exchange of information and best practices. The workshop findings, based on the experience of Bulgaria acquired in the years of transition to democracy, were summarized into a report (policy paper) as a second phase and final outcome of the project. Its purpose was to outline some basic steps and propose recommendations to help Ukraine on its road to the European Union and NATO. The paper can be found on the BSoP website at http://www.schoolofpolitics.org/pubin.php?ID=35.

Project Participants
Atanas Semov, Professor of EU Law at Sofia University
Alexander Politov, Regional Program Coordinator, Bulgarian School of Politics
Boyko Vassilev, Anchor of “Panorama” Program of Channel 1, Bulgarian National Television
Georgi Karasimeonov, Professor, Department of Political Science at Sofia University.
Liliya Levandovska, Project coordinator, Ukrainian Institute for Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Maria Shivergeva, Associate Professor of European Economic Integration in the Political Sciences Department of the NBU and Director of the Virtual Center of the Jean Monnet Program; Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration
Milen Lyubenov, Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics in the Department of Political Science at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski
Natalya Shapovalova, Policy Analyst, International Centre for Policy Studies, Kyiv
Oleksandr Makobriy, Chief consultant, National Center for Euro Atlantic Integration
Oleksandr Sushko, Research Director, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Integration
Oleksiy Haran, Professor, Kyiv Mohyla Academy
Oleksandr Paliy, Expert, Institute for Foreign Policy at Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ukraine
Roman Tchaykovsky, Deputy Editor-in-chief, Radio broadcasting “ERA”
Svetlana Lomeva, Executive Director, Bulgarian School of Politics
Svetoslav Malinov MP, Member of the National Leadership of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria and Secretary of the DSB Parliamentary Group
Svetoslav Terziev, Political analyst for Sega newspaper (Bulgaria)
Svitlana Gorobchyshyna,  Shevchenko Kyiv State University, Faculty of History
Velizar Shalamanov, Chairman of “George C. Marshall Association” – Bulgaria
Volodymyr Horbach, Policy analyst, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Integration
Zhivko Georgiev, Assistant Professor at Sofia University, Research Director of GALLUP International