The International Conference on "Assessment of the economic reforms dynamics in the regions of Ukraine in terms of EU integration" was held on December 18, 2015 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The conference featured presentations from the International Center for Democratic Transition (ICDT) about their organization and the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. The ICDT is a non-profit organization based in Budapest, Hungary that collects experiences from democratic transitions and shares them with countries pursuing democratic reforms. The Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine commits both parties to building democracy and market economies, cooperation on justice and security issues, and involving civil society organizations.
Slovak reforms and EU integration provided lessons for Ukraine. Slovakia's EU membership was crucial but not sufficient for its economic success; comprehensive, bold economic reforms between 2002-2006 including tax, pension, healthcare, and labor market reforms were key. These reforms helped attract foreign direct investment and boost exports, particularly in the automotive industry, making Slovakia's economy one of the fastest growing in the EU. While EU funds financed infrastructure and 80% of public investments, Slovakia has underperformed in utilizing its allocated structural funds. Overall, Slovakia's experience shows that domestic reforms are critical to leverage the opportunities of EU integration.
(1) Ukraine faces economic challenges in integrating with the EU due to Russian aggression, weak reforms, and low institutional capacity.
(2) Key factors include the Russian invasion, slow reforms, oligarch influence in politics and economics, and lack of public awareness of EU integration opportunities.
(3) The document recommends that Ukraine focus on anti-corruption reforms, tax reform, export promotion, improving regulatory bodies, leveraging international aid, and raising public awareness of the EU agreement to help overcome challenges on the path to EU integration.
The International Conference on "Assessment of the economic reforms dynamics in the regions of Ukraine in terms of EU integration" was held on December 18, 2015 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The conference featured presentations from the International Center for Democratic Transition (ICDT) about their organization and the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. The ICDT is a non-profit organization based in Budapest, Hungary that collects experiences from democratic transitions and shares them with countries pursuing democratic reforms. The Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine commits both parties to building democracy and market economies, cooperation on justice and security issues, and involving civil society organizations.
Slovak reforms and EU integration provided lessons for Ukraine. Slovakia's EU membership was crucial but not sufficient for its economic success; comprehensive, bold economic reforms between 2002-2006 including tax, pension, healthcare, and labor market reforms were key. These reforms helped attract foreign direct investment and boost exports, particularly in the automotive industry, making Slovakia's economy one of the fastest growing in the EU. While EU funds financed infrastructure and 80% of public investments, Slovakia has underperformed in utilizing its allocated structural funds. Overall, Slovakia's experience shows that domestic reforms are critical to leverage the opportunities of EU integration.
(1) Ukraine faces economic challenges in integrating with the EU due to Russian aggression, weak reforms, and low institutional capacity.
(2) Key factors include the Russian invasion, slow reforms, oligarch influence in politics and economics, and lack of public awareness of EU integration opportunities.
(3) The document recommends that Ukraine focus on anti-corruption reforms, tax reform, export promotion, improving regulatory bodies, leveraging international aid, and raising public awareness of the EU agreement to help overcome challenges on the path to EU integration.