The State of Democracy in the Ukraine An Examination of Civil Society and the Media Recep Aktas, Alesha Black, Shawn Mongin, Manmeet Mehta

Ukraine and the EU Economic-EU is Ukraine’s largest Trading Partner Geographic-Ukraine is a bridge country Political-Ukraine is a Transitional Government that is Progressing toward Democracy

Justification Objective: To advise the EU on the state of democracy in Ukraine and make recommendations on the role of EU in that process Structure: Civil Society and Media as indicators of democratic health Perspectives: EU Expansion, Importance of Democratization of Eastern bloc states

Ukraine Background

EU-Ukraine Relations Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA), European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), new patterns in the movement of people, capital, goods and services The Action Plan would be the main tool for ENP implementation The EU Supports Ukraine’s accession to the WTO, and has provided technical assistance to this end Ukraine’s EU prospect is Ukraine’s strategic goal Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union

Orange Revolution

Direction of Ukraine takes Center stage in 2004 Presidential Election Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych supports maintaining ties to Russia, Opposition Candidate Viktor Yushchenko promotes expanding relationship with EU Nov. 24, 2005 Election Board declares Yanukovych Presdient by slim margin of victory, Western election observers allege wide scale voter fraud. Yushchenko supporters protest election results. Supporters cloaked in orange scarves peacefully lay siege to Government Buildings Supreme Court requires new election December 26, 2005 Yushchenko wins Presidency

Recent Developments Sep President Yushchenko's chief of staff resigns and makes corruption allegations against several senior officials. Sep President Yushchenko dismisses Orange Revolution ally Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her entire government. Sep President Yushchenko and Presidential rival, former PM Victor Yanukovych, sign cooperation deal. Nov At the Focus on Eastern Europe conference, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said Switzerland wants to smooth the way for Ukraine's entry into Europe.

Media Current State 2551 Newspapers 1374 Magazines Internet Boom, 2.18 million internet users Media Control Violence against Journalists Criteria for Media Health Freedom House Criteria: legal, political, economic Change in Rating Cautious Optimism

Recommendations Language Ownership of media TaxesLicensure Press Law NGOs and Watchdogs Training

Civil Society & Democracy Edward Gibbon said of the ancient Athenians, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free." Edward Gibbon said of the ancient Athenians, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free." Citizen Sector ( The Third Sector) Participatory Society Free and fair elections Increasing the role of education Reorienting public administrators towards greater citizen involvement Expanding research into and conducting regular evaluations of the state of civil society itself Expanding research into and conducting regular evaluations of the state of civil society itself

Mapping Civil Society : Post Orange Revolution –1 in 5 Ukrainians took part in protests in November and December 2004 –Freedom House Ranking: From 4.0(1997) to 3.0(2005) –Sep 2005, 40,000 NGO’s registered –Changes in the rules of play / concept paper –Justice Ministry’s working group –NGO’s actively defend their rights

Community councils attached to State Administrations Independent policy analysis of first 100 days of Presidency Government – NGO Collaborations on Community Development Foreign funded projects –EU –World Bank –CIDA Mapping Civil Society : Post Orange Revolution

Civil Society - Recommendations Continued engagement with civil society organizations – non-combative Technical Assistance –Capacity building and training government officials –Models of participation, monitoring and assessment Human rights based approach to development – UN Possible issues –Administrative reforms in system of institutions of public governance –Judicial reform –Policy making procedures

Recommendations Broad Recommendations The “Big Picture”