This event was jointly conducted by the National Institute of International Security Problems at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine and the Regional Office of Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Ukraine and Belorussia.

The first session entitled 'Will the New Agreement with EU Open the European Prospect to Ukraine' was concentrated on discussing issues of Ukraine-EU enhanced agreement, Ukraine's European aspirations and prospects for their implementation within the context of modern foreign policy priorities of our country, Ukraine's place in the European Union policy as well as external factors influencing the format of the future Ukraine-EU relations.

The second session entitled 'Ukraine-EU: Joint Security Challenges' was dedicated to the modern threats and challenges to the European Securoty Strategy, which is currently being amended. Significant attention was paid to NATO role in the European security system, new trends in the Alliance's development as well as Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration as a constituent of joining the common Europe.

At the conference the Round Table participants discussed similarities and differences in European and Euro-Atlantic security systems along with integration ways bringing Ukraine closer to EU.

The conference on the theme 'Ukrainian Migration to Europe and Managing Related Regional Problem' was held during 24 - 25 March 2008 in Ternopil by the National Institute of International Security Problems jointly with the Regional Representative Office of Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Ukraine and Belorussia and Ternopil Regional State Administration. Another event linked to the above held during the same period was a round table discussion on the theme 'Migration and Economic and Social Issues of Regional Development: Role of Local Government' held in Berezhany, Ternopil region.

The round table discussions in Berezhany concentrated on issues related to labour migration of the population from the district to foreign countries as well as other regions of Ukraine. It highlighted key social and economic factors leading to labour migration, analysed consequences of migration for the current situation and future development of the region. The discussion was aimed at identifying strategic activities to be undertaken by the local bodies to prevent further spread of migration processes and levelling their social, labour resources and other consequences.

The Conference in Ternopil focused on the regional features of the dynamics and results of labour migration of the Ukrainians, its influence on development on Ternopil region in particular. Attention was paid to such grave problems as loss of workforce of high quality by the regions and 'social orphanage' caused by migration (problems of children growing up without parents' supervision due to their labour migration).
Summing up the findings the conference participants came to the requirement of formulating recommendations for the national and local government on managing the migration related problems both regionally and nationally taking into account the results of the discussions.

The event was attended by experts, academics and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
The Round Table was concentrated on discussing the priorities for the national state unity/ considering conceptual, scientific and methodological approaches to formulating the Ukrainian national identity and identifying ideological basis for consolidating the West and the South-East of Ukraine.
The discussion was focused on fundamental and applied grounds for further development of the Ukrainian statehood as the key factor of the modern nation building.

The experts' work was arranged as a 4-hour brainstorming session in two syndicates: "current Problems of Information Openness in relations of the Ukrainian Government with Mass Media" and "International Standards for Informational Transparency: Problems and Prospects for their Implementation in Ukraine".


The syndicates discussed issues of transparency and informational openness of governance structures as necessary prerequisites for sustainable democratic development of society and government as well as the key facilitator for implementing the effective policy able to enforce a real civil control.

The Conference was conducted by this Institute together with the Regional Office of Fridrich Ebert Foundation in Ukraine and Byelorussia.
The conference considered issues of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration, new directions for development of the political dialogue in Ukraine-Russia-EU triangle, in particular, future of Ukraine-Russia Intergovernmental Commission, conceptual shift in interpreting Ukraine-Russia bilateral relations and the new Ukraine-Russia relations Strategy; European integration strategies of Ukraine and Russia and their public monitoring; Ukraine-Russia relations in the contecxt of the European energy security.
Moreover, the conference dwelt upon military-political, socio-political and humanitarian aspects of Ukraine-Russia co-operation in the context of interface with EU as well as on information security issues.

The conference was attended by the leading specialists from countries which had developed strong migration ties with Ukraine, in particular, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic.
It considered topical issues of demographic situation like influence of international migration on various aspects of life of the Ukrainian society; ethnic and cultural interface as a result of international migration of population; interrelation between migrations and demographic development; economic consequences of international migrations; ways of state regulation of migration processes.
The conference came up with ideas, which can be of use in developing and implementing the state migration policy as well as co-operation between Ukraine and EU in the area of human migration.

The Round Table on the theme: "Eastern Dimension of EU Policy" was held by the National Institute of International Security Problems at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.

It concentrated on political aspects of EU co-operation with East and South-East Europe, and South Caucasus. Issues of energy and economy security were also discussed there.

Its first session was spent in discussing co-operation between EU and East, South-East Europe and South Caucasus, in particular, shifts in foreign policy strategies in the region after the European Union had identified new approaches to relationship with its eastern neighbours. Prospects and possible options for co-operation between the European Union and regional institutions in the area of managing threats and challenges to security were also considered.

The second session was devoted to topical issues of energy, transport and communication as well as economic security of the Southern Ukraine, and the Danube region of the Black Sea area. The key issues there were proposals and relevant justification of specific economic projects, which are in the interests of both Ukraine and GUAM, Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Central Asia.

On 19 September 2007 q round table on the theme: "Disposal of Liquid components of Missile Fuel in the Former Soviet Union Countries: Problems and Ways of Managing Them" was held by the National Institute of International Security Problems at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine jointly with Ukroboronleasing (Ukrainian Defence Leasing) state enterprise of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Embassy of Poland in Ukraine. Government officials, representatives of state authorities, academics, experts from non-government and international organisations and members of diplomatic missions were invited to attend the event.



The round table considered problems of disposal of liquid components of missile fuel and recuperation of territories contaminated by them. A Ukrainian-Polish project of 'melange' disposal was presented at the round table. It also covered issues of attracting international technical and financial aid for implementation of this project, in particular, via OCSE.

Implementation of the proposed project is of great importance in the process of disposal of fuel elements of missiles decommissioned in Ukraine in accordance with international agreements.

The Foundation Institute for Eastern Studies (Warsaw), which is a partner of the National Institute of International Security Problems, has been running an annual Economic Forum for the last 16 years. The aim of this forum is to promote dialogue and co-operation among EU and its partner and neighbour countries. The forum is attended by heads of state, government officials, experts, representatives of business circles as well as NGO activists.
A seminar - discussion on the theme: "Black Sea Synergy.; New Platform for co-operation in the Region" was held on 7 September 2007 within the framework of the Forum. It was organised and conducted by the National Institute of the International Security Problems.
The topical issues of co-operation between EU and the Black Sea countries were considered at the seminar. They included, in particular, shifts in foreign policy strategies of the Black Sea countries concerning their relationship with EU after adoption of the Black Sea Synergy, prospects and possible options of co-operation between EU and regional organisations in the area of tackling challenges and threats to security; possible intensification of EU involvement in implementing regional economic and energy projects.
The participants of the discussion shared a view that it is vital to identify new models of co-operation between EU and countries / international organisations of the Black Sea region aiming to increase effectiveness of joint political, economic and energy projects. It is worth noting a remark of Julian Chifu, Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre (Romania), whose presentation covered regional security issues after Romania and Bulgaria accession to EU on 1 January 2007, that the Black Sea counties should be more active themselves and stimulate co-operation within the framework of already existing EU programmes as well as increase Europe's interest in them.
Another important issue, according to Manoli Panagiota, Director of Programs, International Centre for Black Sea Studies (Greece), is further development of mechanisms for rendering financial assistance by the European Union for implementing interregional projects initiated by the member countries and regional organisations of the Black Sea area (OBSEC, GUAM-ODDD, CDC, etc.), and an active dialogue of the member states with the European Commission on these issues.

The event was attended by representatives of state authorities, experts, members of non-governmental organisations, academics and diplomats. The Round Table was opened by GUAM Secretary General, Mr Valerii Chechelashvili.
The Interstate Programme of Danube Energy Transport Bridge project was presented during the round table. It also dealt with issues of energy, transport and communication as well as trade and economic co-operation within GUAM framework.
Issues of energy security and efficient use of transport corridors were also considered during the event. The forum looked into trade turnover of GUAM member nations and identified prospect ways of intensifying their trade and economic relations.
The discussions concentrated on search for potential directions for implementation of economic co-operation between GUAM member nations, expert assessment of economic constituent of the regional partnership as well as ways and opportunities for its further development. The joint work led to the shared view on requirement to co-ordinate economic policy of GUAM member nations, arrangements for multifaceted structure for international co-operation, implementation of joint economic programmes of regional co-operation, first and foremost in energy and transport areas. In order to increase efficiency of interaction within GUAM it is necessary to transit from declarations to focusing on specific joint tasks. Danube Energy Transport Bridge, for example, was mentioned among such projects, which could put the member nations together.

The conference concentrated on key issues of existing regional bodies assisting regional co-operation within the wider Black Sea region looking at scope of their activities, tasks, areas covered and role they play in bringing non-EU member nations closer to acquiring full membership in the European Union as well as formulating new networks for co-operating with EU and identifying potential for re-designing the EU good-neighbouring policy towards the Black Sea nations.
The conference gave its attention to assessing efficiency of regional structures in the Black Sea region, identifying EU priorities there, correlating EU interests and those of other influential geopolitical players as well as analysing foreign policy strategies of the Black Sea states regarding prospects of the regional co-operation.
The international conference participants discussed integration of the Black Sea states into the European economic space, looked into their place in EU economic and transport policy, examined problems of security and stability in the Black Sea region and their influence on the architecture of European security as a whole.

The Round Table continued series of activities looking into Ukraine's national security and defence reform, role and place of the Parliament in managing this vital issue, identifying strategic directions and priorities in this area taking into account other countries' experience.
In their speeches and discussions the participants paid attention to reform in Ukraine's security and defence sector, civil-military relations and international co-operation of the Supreme Council (Rada) of Ukraine with other European parliaments.
The discussion enabled the participants to realise the current state of parliamentary control over the national security and defence sector and familiarise themselves with the experience of developed democratic countries in this area.