European Association of Ukrainians supports the appeal to the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych [more]

Ukraine’s EU ambassador has hinted that Kiev is ready to sign a far-reaching pact with the union even if it makes no more concessions on the economy or pro-enlargement wording. If all goes to plan, EU leaders and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych will in early December in Brussels scribble their initials on an Association Agreement putting Ukraine on a path to one day join the union and fully opening a market of 46 million people to EU companies. [more]

On July 2nd, the European Commission has decided to grant an additional €85 million to the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) for 2010. This will allow neighbouring partner countries to leverage increased funding for major investment projects in key areas such as energy, transport and environment, as well as in the social sector (for projects such as construction of schools and hospitals). Private sector development will also be encouraged, targeting especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). [more]

The European Union announced today the results of its annual International Drawing Competition on gender equality with a Ukrainian pupil, Olga Chumachenko, winning one of the top prizes in the contest. Olga, a nine-year old pupil from Khakhovka, was one of 14 winners of the competition which was launched this year on International Women’s Day, 8th March. In total, around 50,000 children from 61 countries submitted drawings in line with the competition topic “Once upon a time, there was a girl and a boy, together they wanted to make a better world…”. Participation from Ukraine was particularly impressive, with over 2,500 Ukrainian children taking part in the competition. [more]

Spain’s EU presidency will be remembered for its “messy” foreign policy and the invisibility of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero. It began with a hacker putting the face of a TV character, Mr Bean, a comic bumbler who bears a passing resemblance to the Spanish leader, on the Spanish presidency website at the moment of its launch in January. [more]

Belgium took over the rotating six-month EU Presidency on July 1st, and will pass it to Hungary on January 1st 2011. Fight against financial crisis, creation of new jobs and climate change have become key points of the new presidency’s working program. Belgium will advocate more institutional control over financial markets to protect businesses from financial instability risks.
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