The EU Agencies were created to promote the regulatory activities of certain sectors at the EU level. The specific conditions and principles of Ukraine's participation in the Agencies should be established by the Bilateral Agreements with each Agency separately. In general, such participation provides partner country with possibility to become an Agency Board observer. In most cases it also requires the approximation of national legislation as well as payment of the Agency membership fee. The detailed conditions for cooperation and participation is defined by the regulatory act of each Agency
The thematic programmes of the EU are aimed at the development of the EU internal policies in the social, humanitarian, economic and other areas. The participation in such programmes requires prior Framework Agreement between Ukraine and the EU which sets general conditions of access to the EU programs. This Framework Agreement serves as a basis for the conclusion of Memoranda of understanding with the European Commission that will determine the detailed technical, financial and administrative participation arrangements in specific programmes.
On November 1, 2011 the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the general principles for the participation of Ukraine in Union programme came into force (Law of Ukraine on Ratification of September 21, 2011 № 3764). This allows Ukraine to become a full participant in more than twenty sectoral programmes in the fields of energy, competitiveness and innovation, communication, consumer policy, health care, culture, education and science, youth policy, etc. The Protocol establishes legal grounds for the conclusion of the Memoranda of understanding, which define the conditions of participation in each specific EU programme (conditions, the principles of participation, financial liabilities etc).
The Ukrainian representatives of the Committee on Cooperation between Ukraine and the EU endorsed the recommendation regarding analysis guidelines which are used to define the conditions for Ukraine's participation in EU programmes and agencies.
In February 2012 the European Commission standardized approaches regarding the conditions for the participation of 13 ENP member states in “open” and “partially open” EU Programmes, as well as developed a mechanism of co-financing expenses (50% of the total amount of fee) in case of participation of the ENP countries in an EU Agency.
Since 2014, under the EU budget for 2014-2020, the Commission modified the list of the EU programmes, including the conditions for Eastern Partnership countries to participate in those programmes. The changes were due to the new priorities of the EU development.
Thus, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, which coordinates Ukraine's participation in EU programmes and agencies, and the other concerned Ukrainian institutions prepared and presented the position paper on Ukraine’s priority areas of cooperation under the new framework of EU programmes. The priority areas are the following:
- Science, technology and innovation – the EU Framework Programme in research and innovation "Horizon 2020";
- Customs and tax policy, the EU programmes "Fiscalis 2020", "Customs 2020";
- Statistics - "Statistical Programme of the EU";
- Entrepreneurship - "The EU programme to enhance the competitiveness of the small and medium-sized enterprises. "
In general, Ukraine seeks to get involved in the EU programmes gradually as well as to continue work with the EU agencies under the bilateral agreements.
EU PROGRAMMES
Horizon 2020
On July 15, 2015 Ukraine has ratified the agreement on associate membership in the EU Framework Programmefor Research and Innovation "Horizon 2020", which opens the door for the Ukrainian scientists, universities, educational centres and organizations to join European research projects.
The "Horizon 2020" is the largest EU programme aimed at funding research and innovation, with the budget 80 billion euro for the next seven years (2014-2020). However, apart of financial support, the Ukrainian scientific community is provided with an opportunity to attract foreign partners for joint implementation of research initiatives as well as to participate in the EU intellectual life at equal conditions with other European researchers.
Useful links:
Horizon 2020 main page: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.html
H2020 Online Manual: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/guide.html
COSME
The agreement on Ukraine’s participation in COSME is planned to be concluded by the end of 2015. COSME is the EU programme for the period 2014-2020 with a budget of 2.3 billion euro. The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through creation of favorable conditions for its development.
After joinig the programme, 800 million of euro will be avaliable for Ukraine under COSME agreement. This financial resources will be provided as grants to the government agencies or the Ukrainian NGOs for projects which supports SMEs and strengthen international trade.
Useful links:
COSME main page: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cosme
Enterprise Europe Network: http://een.ec.europa.eu/
Creative Europe
The Ukrainian government is currently working on the agreement on Ukraine's participation in the EU cultural programme "Creative Europe" which is planned to be concluded by the end of 2015.
“Creative Europe” is the EU platform for humanitarian and cultural initiatives with budget of 1.46 billion euro. The programme provides the financial and logistics support to the organisations and institutions across Europe to implement joint projects in the field of culture. For Ukraine, the membership status in the "Creative Europe" is not only a great chance the European Union to experience the Ukrainian art through mutual cooperation, but also an opportunity to attract forreign investors to the domestic cultural initiatives.
Useful links:
Creative Europe main page: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/
EUROPEAS NETWORKS: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/tools/networks_en.htm