SLOVAKIA APPROVES ASSISTANCE PLAN FOR UKRAINE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000878

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA APPROVES ASSISTANCE PLAN FOR UKRAINE


1. On October 25, the GOS approved an assistance plan to
help Ukraine meet the objectives outlined by the EU
Ukraine Action Plan. The proposed GOS activities will
focus on sharing Slovak knowledge and experience in
democratic and economic reforms with Ukrainian partner
agencies. The specific areas of the GOS plan closely
follow the structure and chapters of the EU-Ukraine Action
Plan. Slovakia is considering assistance in almost all
areas, including public administration reform, civil
society, judicial and legal reforms, the fight against
corruption, human and civil rights, freedom of media,
minority rights, foreign policy and international
organizations, conflict prevention and resolution, economic
reforms, EU law, finances, structural reforms, social
reforms, regional development, and customs.


2. The funding of this assistance remains to be
determined. In some cases, the funding will come from
Slovak Overseas Development Assistance funds, and Slovak
NGOs will implement the activities. In most cases,
however, the funding will likely come from the budgets and
internal resources of Slovak ministries and other
institutions which will provide the respective assistance.
In these cases, Slovakia will attempt to "cost share" with
Ukraine.


3. Several notable GOS activities outlined in the plan
include the offer of Slovak assistance in securing
democratic parliamentary elections in March 2006 through
participation in the monitoring mission, expert
consultations, and in drafting amendments to the election
legislation (including the law on opposition). Slovakia is
also considering assistance in continuation of
administrative reform and strengthening of local self-
governments in Ukraine through training courses and "study
stays" with organizations with experiences in public
administration reform, such as the Ministry of Construction
and Regional Development and the Kosice Self-Governing
Region.


4. COMMENT: The proposal does not contain a binding
timeline other than mandating that an evaluation report be
submitted in January 2007. Ministers are bound to
implement this plan, but have to find funds in their
regular budgets, meaning they will have to re-allocate
funds from other projects. The success of this program
will depend mainly on how much effort the individual
agencies invest in it. Some organizations may need
additional motivation from the PM, parliament, media, as
well as from the EU and other international donors.

VALLEE


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