Second Workshop for Civil Society implemented
From December 13–16, 2015, Constanze Aka, project manager at the Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP), implemented the second workshop for civil society representatives from Western Ukraine within the project Civic School for Sound EU Practice.
The workshop conveyed further knowledge on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the European Union, entering into force on 1 January, 2016. In particular, the Ukrainian experts Ms Svitlana Zaitseva and Ms Zoriana Mishchuk presented and discussed the contents of Chapter 12 (Transparency) and 13 (Sustainable Development and Trade) and the role of Civil Society in their respective implementation. Furthermore, the participants got insight into the Cross-Border Cooperation Joint Operational Programme Poland-Belarus-Ukraine which is funded through the European Neighbourhood Instrument. And finally, facilitated by Ms Maja Bobić the group discussed advocacy tools and instruments based on case examples from the Republic of Serbia. In this context, the participants trained their problem analysis and objective setting skills.
We are looking forward to continue our work during the third workshop in this training series, taking place from 1–4 February, 2015. We wish all our participants a prosperous New Year!
The workshop is part of the workshop series “Civic School for Sound EU Practice” (CiSEP), a capacity building project for members of Civil Society Organizations in Ukraine that is organized by the IEP and implemented in cooperation with Polissya Foundation for International and Regional Studies (Chernihiv, Ukraine), the Voters Committee in Odessa and Civil Network OPORA in Lviv. The project takes place over a two-year period in the form of a progressively structured training program in the cities of Chernihiv, Odesa and Lviv. The training cycles convey comprehensive knowledge on constituent parts and effects of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Furthermore, participants study and practice approaches for sustainable monitoring of the association process. They are instructed in, amongst others, methods of strategy development, monitoring, and campaigning.
The trainings are led by experts from administrative bodies and civil society organizations in EU member and candidate countries. The long-term project creates a sustainable network and synergies for the cooperation of participating civil society organizations.
The project is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany.
