Ukraine and international organizations

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states which are located primarily in Europe. It was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community. The EU operates through a system of supranational independent institutions and intergovernmental negotiated decisions by the member states. Important institutions of the EU include the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Central Bank. The European Parliament is elected every five years by EU citizens. The EU's de facto capital is Brussels.

One of its main goals is to promote human rights both internally and around the world. Human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights: these are the core values of the EU. Since the 2009 signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights brings all these rights together in a single document. The EU's institutions are legally bound to uphold them, as are EU governments whenever they apply EU law.

Relations between Ukraine and the European Union (EU) are currently shaped via the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), a foreign policy instrument of the EU designed for the countries it borders. The European Union (EU) is seeking an increasingly close relationship with Ukraine, going beyond cooperation, to gradual economic integration and deepening of political cooperation. Ukraine is said to be a priority partner within the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). In 2012 the EU signed deals on free trade and political association with Ukraine; however EU leaders have suggested that these agreements will not be ratified unless Ukraine addresses concerns over a "stark deterioration of democracy and the rule of law".

The Council of Europe is an international organization promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation. It was founded in 1949, has 47 member states with some 800 million citizens, and is an entirely separate body from the European Union (EU). Unlike the EU, the Council of Europe cannot make binding laws. The best known bodies of the Council of Europe are the European Court of Human Rights, which enforces the European Convention on Human Rights, and the European Pharmacopoeia Commission, which sets the quality standards for pharmaceutical products in Europe. The Council of Europe's work has resulted in standards, charters and conventions to facilitate cooperation between European countries. The Council of Europe works in the following areas:

· Protection of the rule of law and fostering legal co-operation

· CODEXTER, designed to co-ordinate counter-terrorism measures

· The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)

· Protection of human rights

· Protection of democracy

· Promotion of cultural co-operation and diversity

· Promotion of the right to education

· Promotion of fair sport

· Promotion of European youth exchanges and co-operation

· Promotion of the quality of medicines throughout Europe

The relationship between Ukraine and the CE provides a solid basis for a successful partnership for reform. When it joined the Council of Europe in 1995, Ukraine agreed to accept the principles of the rule of law and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by everyone within its jurisdiction. Ukraine also agreed to collaborate sincerely and effectively towards the aim of the Council of Europe – preserving and promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

The UN currently has a total of 193 member states. From its offices around the world, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. The organization has six principal organs: the General Assembly (the main deliberative assembly); the Security Council (for deciding certain resolutions for peace and security); the Economic and Social Council (for assisting in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development); the Secretariat (for providing studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN); the International Court of Justice (the primary judicial organ); and the United Nations Trusteeship Council (which is currently inactive). Other prominent UN System agencies include the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The UN's most prominent position is Secretary-General which has been held by Ban Ki-moon of South Korea since 2007.

The UN has 4 main purposes:

· To keep peace throughout the world;

· To develop friendly relations among nations;

· To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms;

· To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.

The UN works in Ukraine since 1992. Currently 13 International Organizations, Agencies, and Associated Institutions with resident missions and programmes and 800 staff members provide assistance at the central and local levels in pursuing sustained economic growth, good governance, rule of law, respect for human rights and other international standards and norms for the sake of the well-being of the people of Ukraine. Most recently, areas of cooperation and partnership between the UN system and the Government of Ukraine were outlined in the Partnership Framework for 2012-2016.

This Partnership Framework sets the common strategic planning basis for UN development operations and assistance at country level for the next five years in four main areas:

• sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction;

• social development;

• governance;

• environment and climate change.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16