This part of the Annual Action Programme (AAP) for 2011 is worth €105 million and consists of three components. The largest component of €70 million will further reform of the Public Administration, including by strengthening the civil service and administrative justice in Ukraine. The programme aims to bring Ukraine’s Public Administration in line with European and international standards. It will introduce good practices for the benefit of the Ukrainian people by ensuring that services for citizens and business are delivered in a more transparent, accountable and efficient manner.

The second part of the programme will dedicate €20 million to supporting Ukraine’s Regional Development Policy. It will strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian authorities and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective regional development policies. This includes the implementation of pilot regional development projects, which is part of the Eastern Partnership. The EU’s support to regional development aims at sharing with third countries experiences on regional policy within the EU and replicating it. It aims at reducing the economic, social and territorial disparities. Funds will be targeted towards economic growth and job creation.

The third component of this assistance consists of EU support to Ukraine’s efforts to reduce energy consumption through a contribution to the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership Fund (E5P, also known as “the Swedish Initiative”). This should result in reduced CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. As an example, under the EU Covenant of Mayors initiative (part of the E5P plan), 16 large cities of Ukraine have now made the commitment to go beyond the target of 20 percent CO2 reduction by 2020 through the implementation of Sustainable Energy Action Plans, supported by the EU.

European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, commented: “The EU is committed to supporting public administration reform in Ukraine. Transparent, well-functioning institutions and administrative procedures in line with European standards are fundamental to Ukraine’s efforts at political association and economic integration with the EU. The reforms will benefit the Ukrainian citizens in their daily lives by strengthening the administration and improving the delivery of public services.”

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Background:
The allocations from the ENPI Annual Action programmes are the main source of EU assistance for partner states along the eastern border of the EU and the Mediterranean. The aim of the assistance is to promote enhanced cooperation and progressive economic integration between the EU and partner countries.

Furthermore, the assistance will also encourage partner countries’ efforts aimed at promoting good governance and equitable social and economic development.

The assistance package of €105 million has been committed from the 2011 EU budget in the framework of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI).