The EBA took part in the condemnation of the Coordination Centre for activities related to Ukraine’s participation in the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
On 20 October, an online meeting of the Coordination Centre for the implementation of activities related to Ukraine’s participation in the implementation of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region was held under the chairmanship of Oleksiy Chernyshov, Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.
The meeting of the Coordination Centre was attended by representatives of central executive authorities, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, regional state administrations, enterprises (institutions) and associations of local self-government bodies.
Opening the meeting, Oleksiy Chernyshov stressed that Ukraine’s participation in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region remains a priority. It is seen as an effective platform for promoting sustainable development of territories and addressing common problems and challenges inherent in this macro-region. ‘The importance and focus of the state policy towards the implementation of the Strategy and Ukraine’s further participation is proved by the consolidation of this direction in the strategic documents of the Government, in particular in the State Strategy for Regional Development for 2021-2027 and the State Programme for the Development of Cross-Border Cooperation,’ he stressed.
Vasyl Lozynskyi, First Deputy Minister, National Coordinator of the Strategy in Ukraine, noted that ‘the implementation of the Strategy’s priorities is extremely important not only for the four regions covered by the Strategy as part of the Danube Region, but also for the whole of Ukraine. This is a good example of establishing good neighbourly relations on the way to joint development and prosperity of the territories.’
Ivan Lukerya, Deputy Minister for Regional Development, stressed that Ukraine joined the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region back in 2011, having clearly defined goals and objectives within 11 priority areas. In particular: transport, energy, culture, tourism, water quality, environmental risks, biodiversity, modern technologies, business development, education, human potential and security.
MinRegion, together with the relevant ministries and the Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Odesa and Chernivtsi Oblast State Administrations, has developed a draft Action Plan to ensure the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region in Ukraine for 2021-2023.
‘The plan envisages the implementation of measures aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s participation in the implementation of the Strategy and further developing cooperation between the Strategy’s participating countries, the European Commission and other European institutions. It will also facilitate the interaction of central and local authorities to ensure the proper implementation of the Strategy’s priority areas in Ukraine and the implementation of the Strategy’s Action Plan to ensure the development of the Ukrainian part of the Danube Region,’ said Ivan Lukerya.
According to him, this will create favourable conditions for increasing the competitiveness of the territorial communities of the Danube Region and create the preconditions for attracting additional financial resources from the European Union funds, which will help to solve social and economic issues of not only local but also national importance.
The participants of the Coordination Centre supported the Action Plan to ensure the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region in Ukraine for three years and approved the decision to consider the possibility of Ukraine’s presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region in 2022 at the next meeting.
The event was held with the partnership support of the Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralisation Support Project in Ukraine (DESPRO).