BRUSSELS, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
- Ukrainian and European Partners Come Together to Promote Citizen-Level Dialogue Alongside Political Discussions
Ukrainian MP Alexander Feldman and MEP Adina-Ioana Valean today launched the new EU-Ukraine Forum at a major event in the European Parliament. The Forum concept was developed by Mr Feldman to bring European and Ukrainian people closer together.
"Politicians talk more and more to each other, but through the work of the EU-Ukraine Forum, we hope to stimulate complementary interaction between the ordinary citizens of the EU and Ukraine, the business leaders, civil society representatives, students and teachers who should be the greatest beneficiaries of closer political ties." said Alexander Feldman at the launch event.
During the course of the year, the EU-Ukraine Forum, with the support of its prestigious Advisory Board members, will organize a series of events on key issues where there is potential to build stronger connections between Ukrainians and Europeans. The Forum will address topics such as shared cultural heritage, human rights, transport connections, energy policy, and free movement of workers and students.
The EU-Ukraine relationship is moving into an exciting new phase. Ukraine is approaching the 20th anniversary of its independence and is currently negotiating for a comprehensive new trade agreement with the EU and visa liberalization for its citizens, which will bring Ukrainian and EU citizens even closer.
With the EURO2012 football championships taking place in Ukraine in just over a year, including in Mr Feldman's home city of Kharkiv, a rich period of mutual discovery is on the horizon. The EU-Ukraine Forum will work to promote understanding and friendship between the citizens of Ukraine and their neighbours from the European Union.
The launch event in the European Parliament saw contributions from respected speakers on EU-Ukraine relations including former President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski and Miroslaw Lajcek, Former Foreign Minister of Slovakia and now Managing Director for Russia, the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans in the newly formed European External Action Service.
The event in the European Parliament was attended by a broad spectrum of guests including MEPs, Commission officials, Member State representatives, NGOs, business, academics and members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Brussels.
The EU-Ukraine Forum Advisory Board is composed of: Alexander Feldman, Adina Valean, Aleksander Kwasniewski, Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, Alan Riley, Andrew Wilson.
Further details can be found at: http://www.euukraineforum.com
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