On 2 February, a plenary session of the International Commission of Independent Experts met to put the final touches on its Program of Reforms for the new President of Ukraine. Set up in November 2009, the Commission includes key state players, experts and community activists. It is co-chaired by Prof. Anders Aslund, Senior Researcher at the Peterson Institute of International Economics in Washington, and Prof. Oleksandr Paskhaver, President of the Center for Economic Development.

This Commission’s main objective is to establish priority areas of reform and to develop recommendations for the President’s first 300 days in office. Among the key issues for which the Commission sought answers were: increasing the functionality of the state, stabilizing the financial sector, improving the business environment, reforming the energy sector, revamping social policy, and moving European integration ahead. The Program of Reforms will be presented to the new President.