[ Ukraine ]

The Institute for Danubean and Central European Affairs (Vienna), the International Cultural Centre (Kraków), the Jagiellonian University (Kraków), the Iwan Franko State University (L'viv) and the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs have announced the circumstances of their Summerschool 2005. The topic will be EU - UKRAINE. Perspectives of Co-operation.

Dates: 15-29 July 2005
Venue: Kraków/Poland, University campus in Przegorzały
Working language: English
Participants: 25 advanced and post graduate students, young scholars and young government officials from European countries.
Faculty: academics and experts from Austria, Belgium, Poland, Ukraine
Classes: lectures, seminars, panel discussions, study tour
Application package: a cv, a recommendation letter, an essay demonstrating familiarity with issues connected with EU action in support of Ukraine, evidence of substantial English language skills - to be sent to: the International Cultural Centre, Rynek Główny 25, 31-008 Kraków, Poland, e-Mail: sekret@mck.krakow.pl

The Summer School offers courses on the history, present day situation and perspectives of Ukraine in the context of Central European and European relations. Special emphasis is given to the perspectives of co-operation between the European Union and Ukraine. The main objective of the new neighbourhood policy of the European Union and of the concept of "Wider Europe" is to intensify co-operation with European countries which are not members of the European Union, and to avoid the situation that the new external borders of the EU create barriers for co-operation. Between the EU and Ukraine the so-called "Action Plan" has been agreed to support integration processes.

As of May 2004 Ukraine is a direct neighbour of the EU and its future partner. With the inauguration of Viktor Yuschenko, Ukraine has entered a new era. The challenge ahead is to use this new chapter in Ukrainian history to build a stronger EU-Ukraine relationship. For both sides it is a good time now to reflect on how they can work together more effectively to
achieve common goals. The peaceful revolutionary processes of the winter 2004/2005 have shown that Ukraine has entered the path of democracy and European standards. What is the road ahead for the EU and Ukraine? Both parties declare their will to work closely together as neighbours. Historical and cultural ties mark out in particular Poland and Austria to undertake initiatives in support of political and economic reforms in Ukraine. The summer school will discuss the instruments of neighbourly
co-operation and integration, the development of democracy in Ukraine, regional programmes stimulating co-operation, and also the role of cultural remembrance in establishing dialogue.

The Programme modules are structured as follows:

• Cultural Memory and Spaces of Identity (Ukraine, Central Europe, Europe):
  Europe and Ukraine
  Major Historic Developments
  Cultural Traditions and Ukrainian Nation-building
  Cultural Memory of Kiev, L'viv and Kraków
  Ukraine and the Notion of Central Europe
• Political Changes in Ukraine:
  Political Transitions 1991 and 2005
  Ukraine-Russia Relationship
  The Events of November/December 2004
  “Westerners and Easterners”- Internal Divisions in Ukraine
  Democracy and the Legal System/Constitutional, Legal and Administrative Reforms
• Polish and Ukrainian Experience after 1991
• Cooperation between EU and Ukraine:
  The EU “Action Plan” for Ukraine
  Perspectives for Further Integration Steps
  Polish-Ukraine Neighbourhood Policies
  Ukraine’s Participation in International Institutions and Structures - Defence and Security Issues
  Perspectives for a EU-membership?
• There will also be a Study tour (3-days visit to L'viv and Polish/Ukrainian border region) with Meetings and discussions with representatives of regional and local authorities, NGO’s, etc. with the aim of finding out about cross-border co-operation initiatives.