The latest edition of the Media Digest covers publications on the main events in June that reflect the state and prospects of relations between the European Union and Ukraine.
Children’s Day in times of war
Some 1.3 million Ukrainian children now live in the European Union, according to a joint statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on International Children’s Day.
The statement also says that the European Commission has pledged to support child welfare reform in Ukraine by allocating €10 million.
URC-2023: strategies and challenges for Ukraine
The Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano (URC-2022) resulted in a €750 billion plan to rebuild Ukraine and a declaration of its basic principles. The next conference in Berlin brought Ukraine €18 billion in assistance for 2023, and the most recent URC in London was one of the most successful in terms of both financial guarantees and strategic reconstruction. The main condition for Ukraine is irreversible reforms, especially anti-corruption and judicial reforms.
Matti Maasikas: «The EU keeps its promises, and the prospect of membership is a promise»
JUSTICE AND LAW
Kakhovka HPP: a new dimension of Russian atrocities
Eurojust publishes an annual report
In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU’s fight against serious international crimes has been significantly enhanced, according to Eurojust’s Annual Report.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: «Responding to the unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russia has permanently changed the nature of Eurojust’s work. I was determined to see the European Union lead the fight for full accountability for the horrendous crimes committed in Ukraine. We immediately recognised where Eurojust could help, and it has more than lived up to the challenge».
Punishment for breaches of sanctions must be unavoidable
On 9 June, the Council of the European Union set out general approaches for an EU law to criminalise the circumvention of EU sanctions imposed on Russia.
Once adopted, this directive will be an important tool and will guarantee punishment for violations of EU sanctions.
ECONOMY, FINANCE, BUSINESS
The EIB allocates funds for temporary bridges
EU extends duty-free trade with Ukraine for one year
The Council of the European Union has extended the suspension of all duties, quotas, and trade defence measures on Ukrainian exports to the EU until June 2024.
This decision will help Ukraine maintain stable trade relations with the EU and support its economy in a very difficult situation: «By extending these measures, the EU continues to demonstrate its unwavering political and economic support for Ukraine, which continues to face unprovoked and unjustified military aggression from Russia.»
Post-war business: how to rebuild and adapt it to European standards?
How can Ukraine become a European gas hub?
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Experience of Danish municipalities for Ukrainian communities
Analysis, dialogue and cooperation: Ukrainian and European communities establish cooperation
Digitalisation of communities as a tool for post-war development
SCIENCE, CULTURE, EDUCATION
Ursula Van der Leyen, President of the European Commission: «Your kindness and creativity truly brightened my day»
Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Roberta Metsola, and Andrzej Duda have rushnyks – traditional Ukrainian embroidered towels – from Rozalia Bodnarchuk of Kalush, a gift for Justin Trudeau is being prepared for dispatch, and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, received a Victory Rushnyk.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also received a handmade rushnyk from Rozalia and expressed her sincere thanks for it.
The winners of the European Heritage Award / Europe Nostra Awards 2023 have been announced
Among this year’s 30 winners from 21 countries, two are from Ukraine:
- Un-archiving Post-industry digitally preserves endangered industrial heritage collections in eastern Ukraine.
- Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online (SUCHO) is an international team that has archived more than 50 TB of data from Ukrainian cultural institutions since February 2024.
EU draws up a list of restrictions on artificial intelligence
After two years of debate, the emergence of ChatGPT and its potential negative impact on employment and society has brought the issue to the forefront.
Representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the EU are currently agreeing on the details of the final version of the law, as some points are controversial, such as the use of facial recognition for national security purposes, which is currently included in the list of restrictions.
Vocational training in Ukraine is changing its image
Future farmers trained on modern European equipment
