EU Budget: Ukraine needs to lobby its interests

The EU will give Ukraine EUR 470 million over 2011-2013, according to a recent decision of the European Parliament in the framework of funding for the European Neighborhood Policy. However, compared to the level of funding provided for 2007-2010, this assistance from the EU to Ukraine has been cut by EUR 24 million.

Should Ukraine be concerned? After all, Moldova has been allocated EUR 273mn for this same period, which is actually EUR 34 mn more than it received in the previous period. Of course, 2007-2010 covers four years, whereas 2011-2013 covers only three. But if the per-capita value of this EU assistance is calculated, it works out to EUR 10.20 per Ukrainian, compared to EUR 63.50 per Moldovan.

Still, it is probably not worth worrying about. The objectives facing Ukraine are:

• to make the best use of what has already been given. Budget support merits particular attention.
• to immediately begin preparing to lobby for the EU to allocate enough funding for priority reforms in Ukraine for the next financial framework.

By the end of 2012, the European Commission is supposed to put together the draft of a financial plan for the European Union for 2014-2018. This means that Ukraine has to establish its own list of priority reforms and determine their cost. This process should involve the Government, the Rada, independent experts and representatives of international organizations. Ukraine’s request should be addressed to the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as to individual EU countries. In this process, working ties with the European People’s Party and EU non-government organizations should be taken advantage of to the maximum for lobbying purposes.