The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen, has approved a new five year Neighbourhood Programme for Ukraine and Georgia. The Neighbourhood Programme supports Denmark’s foreign policy priority of a peaceful and stable Europe. The programme will focus on key areas of the countries’ reform processes, including in particular democracy, human rights and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Ukraine and Georgia are facing serious challenges, including from the territorial threat from Russia. Both countries are committed to increased European integration and are undergoing ambitious and difficult reform processes. Anders Samuelsen says: ”It is in the interest of Denmark and Europe that Ukraine and Georgia continue the European course that they have chosen. It is essentially about stability and security in Europe. The countries’ comprehensive reform programs are a precondition for the development of modern and well-functioning societies. They represent the best possible answer to the aggression from Russia – and are essential for the wish to continue on the path of European integration. For this reason, it is important that we continue to support their reform agendas. The Danish assistance will facilitate important steps in the right direction. This is why I have approved a new Neighbourhood programme amounting to DKK 860 million.”
The new Neighbourhood Programme builds on experiences and results from previous engagements in the region and contains a number of areas with specific Danish strengths and capabilities. This includes for instance the energy sector, where the Danish Energy Agency will engage in a government-to-government cooperation with Ukraine. It also includes the fight against corruption where Denmark will work to strengthen the capacity in Ukrainian institutions to prevent and combat corruption.
Ukraine and Georgia have entered into deep and comprehensive free trade agreements with the EU that hold substantial potential for the countries’ private sectors but also necessitate difficult transitions. The Danish programme offers technical assistance and support to small and medium sized companies to enable them to live up to applied requirements and thus fully benefit from the trade agreements with the EU.
The Neighbourhood programme also includes support to both Ukrainian and Georgian civil society organisations, which play an essential role in keeping the governments on the reform track and in securing transparency and accountability.
