Visegrad countries take lead in democratic aid to Ukraine

This was one of the main conclusions ICPS experts drew in their study called “Supporting Consolidation and Democracy Assistance Policies among V4 Countries: Ukraine” prepared as part of a PASOS report called “Democracy’s New Champions: European democracy assistance after EU enlargement.” The report assesses the role of the Visegrad countries—Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia—in the democratization of four selected countries, including Ukraine. Themselves recent recipients of technical assistance, the V4 are developing their foreign policies priorities as new EU members and linking small but significant assistance funds to these priorities. How effective have V4 countries been, in supporting Ukraine’s democratization and what are the best channels for this? ICPS Director Olha Shumylo and analyst Natalia Shapovalova examined the strengths and weaknesses of the V4 and provided policy recommendations for further assistance

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Olga Shumylo is the new ICPS Director

The International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS) announces a change of management. Ms. Olga Shumylo has been appointed the new ICPS Director.

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ICPS’s 400th Newsletter

The weekly bulletin of the International Centre for Policy Studies has been an information bridge between the Centre and those who use ICPS materials in their work. The Newsletter not only informs readers about current research, projects and events at the Centre. By following the life of the Centre, the Newsletter moves in unison with Ukrainian and international events, reporting on and analyzing them with professional opinion, analysis and comments. This issue talks about what the ICPS Newsletter’s materials are based on and summarizes what Newsletter issues were record-breakers in terms of downloads from the ICPS site

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Spain and Ukraine - Recommendations

The International Centre for Policy Studies has published conclusions and recommendations from the working group on “Spain and Ukraine: Prospects for partnership”, which met in Barcelona over December 2007 at the initiative of ICPS, the CIDOB Foundation and the Madrid branch of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. This document presents the five main spheres for eventual cooperation between Kyiv and Madrid

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Ukraine’s Participation in European Union Agencies and Programs: Prospects and opportunities

In 2007, the European Commission presented a list of agencies and programs that are partly or completely open for neighboring countries to participate in, including Ukraine. Given the lack of consolidated information on this subject, the International Centre for Policy Studies has prepared a report called “Ukraine’s Participation in European Union Agencies and Programs: Prospects and opportunities.” This document contains detailed information about EU agencies and programs and can serve as the analytical base for negotiations and the foundation of future, informed decisions on the part of the Government of Ukraine

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Impact Assessment of an EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement

ICPS has prepared a policy paper entitles "Free Trade between Ukraine and the EU: an Impact Assessment", in which Centre's experts presented their analysis of possible consequences of the FTA for a number of sectors of Ukraine's economy, positions of various stakeholders regarding the FTA and recommendations for the negotiations. This report was prepared in the framework of "Public Consultations on the EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement" project implemented by ICPS with the support of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative of the Open Society Institute (OSI).

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Reforming Local Government in Ukraine

This White Paper was prepared under the “Public Consultations and Public Awareness Campaign on Local Government Reform in Ukraine—Phase 2” project undertaken jointly by the International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS) and the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education (CURE) with funding from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. This report outlines key problems in local government today, describes reform measures proposed to resolve them, and summarizes the positions of various interest groups regarding current problems and the suggested pathways to a solution.

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Prospects for Deep Free Trade between Ukraine and the EU

Although it is the easiest alternative in terms of implementation, a simple Free Trade Agreement that cancels tariffs on goods in addition to the conditions of WTO accession would bring very few advantages to Ukraine—and even fewer to the EU. On the contrary, although it will definitely be harder to institute, a deeper accord on Free Trade with the EU, the FTA+, could form the basis for an economic strategy that would ensure rapid growth in Ukraine.

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ICPS has downgraded economic forecast

Olga Shumylo is the new ICPS Director

High inflation: An unavoidable component in Ukraine’s economic growth over 2008–2010

Ukraine economy will grow at a moderate pace

What next, after the election?

Democracy's new champions

New kids on the block

Topical Issues of Gender Equality in Ukraine. The Collection of Analytical Documents and Draft Laws

PASOS statement on Russia-Georgia conflict

Ńonclusions and Recommendations from the Working Group on “Spain and Ukraine: Prospects for Partnership”, Barcelona, 3-4 December, 2007