Europe & CIS

EU Cooperation

More than half the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have acceded to, or are seeking to join the European Union. The EU also seeks to strengthen cooperation between its members and neighbours to the east and southeast—a particularly important means of support during the current economic crisis.

In response, the UNDP has developed an initiative to facilitate cooperation across EU borders. As part of the initiative, new EU member states share their knowledge and expertise on transition and development and lessons learned. Recipients of this expertise are EU accession countries. The UNDP provides guidance, seed money and raises additional funds from governments, the EU and the private sector.

Most new member states are also becoming providers of development assistance, after having been recipients for a number of years. Many states have success stories from their transition from liberal-democratic social systems. Policymakers, entrepreneurs, and non-governmental organisations in these countries have unique insights and project success stories that can be applied in accession counties. The adaptation of these practices is extremely important for the accession countries and other EU neighbours to the south and east, particularly during the global financial crisis.

The UNDP also seeks to ensure that the policy advice and lessons learned will not be forgotten, and opportunities for larger policy impact will not be lost. As part of that approach, the UNDP regionalizes those country projects that have had a positive impact. Furthermore, the UNDP continues to initiate regional multi-country projects with a view to resolving international environmental, economic and social challenges.

Examples of such collaborative EU-UNDP projects in 2009 include:

• Women Caught in Net of Exploitation Helped in Belarus
• New Gear to Help Kyrgyzstan Battle Border Problems
• Georgians Gain Jobs, Loans, One Year After Conflict
• Experts Discuss Development in Lectures at Universities of New EU members
• Human Rights Hotline Records 92 Cases
• Preventing HIV/STI Among Uniformed Services in Ukraine
• New Telephone Hotline to Help With Torture Cases in Moldova
• Radioactive Waste Threatens Central Asia
• Uzbekistan Takes on Drug Traffickers
• New Azerbaijan Center to Help Remove Landmines
• Urgent Reforms Needed in Ukraine
• Moldovan Election: "The Power is in Our Hands"
• Ukrainian Celebrities Join Campaign to Protect Women
• Anti-drug Programme Just the Beginning says Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Targets Surplus Ammunition
• ISO: Southwest Serbia Seeks Tourists
• Landmark Report Warns of Climate Change Perils in Croatia
• Georgia War-Recovery Progresses with EU, UNDP Help
• European Commission, UNDP, Launch Programme to Cut Disaster Risks in SE Europe
• Kosovo Businesses Commit to Social Responsibility