For International Renaissance Foundation

Project Proposals

For International Renaissance Foundation

Project Title:Parliamentary Support Groupof Ukraine

Project Relevance:

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has been Ukraine’s reliable partner since the diplomatic relations between two states were established. The Netherlands supports the European choice of Ukraine. At the same time, the Netherlands became a key country for future EU-Ukraine relations.

The Dutch consultative referendum on ratification of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, scheduled on April 6, 2016, will hold during the Dutch presidency in the EU. Negative voting on the referendum cancause damage the image of the Netherlands as one of the pillars of European integration because the Netherlands was one of the six founding members of the EU.

The Dutch consultative referendum shows the necessity of strengthening efforts for further development of fruitful cooperation between Ukraine and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The DCFTAis an important component of the Association Agreement that will provide unique opportunities for the Dutch, European and Ukrainian business to be present on the huge markets of Ukraine and the EU.

In this regards, search the bilateral tools for increasing the awareness of mutual benefits from the Association Agreement and the DCFTA with Ukraine become the common task and critical necessity for both countries.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

As international practice shows creation of a group for friendship between states has a positive effect on extension of bilateral relations. Understanding theimportance of strengthening inter-parliamentary dimension of bilateral relations, the establishment of the Group of Friendship “Ukraine-Netherlands” will allow maintaining communication and developing constant contacts between parliamentarians in order to inform Dutch colleagues about the common internal situation and ongoingreforms in Ukraine, to amplify bilateral economic and business relations. By joint efforts, Ukrainian and Dutch parliamentarians will be able to decrease negative perception of Ukraine in the Netherlands and facilitate the completion of ratification process of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

Project Goal: to create aGroup of Supportof Ukraine within the Dutch Parliament.

Target audience

- Stakeholders and decision-makers within the Dutch Parliament:

Parliamentarians of the Senate

Parliamentarians of the House of Representatives

- Representatives of the Dutch business circles and business associations

- Dutch and European investors;

- Executive authorities in the Netherlands;

- Dutch NGOs and initiators of projects;

- Citizens of the Netherlands.

Project Duration: January 2016 – June 2016

Project Resources:

- Human resources:

Management team:

Mrs. Vira Konstantynova, a volunteer of the Project,adviser to a Member of Ukrainian Parliament,

Ms. Andrew Sklyarenko, Project manager,an Adviser to a Member of Ukrainian Parliament

Mrs. Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska, Member of Ukrainian Parliament, Adviser of the Project on volunteer basis

Management team requirements:

Position 1 – Secretary of the Group

Position 2 – PR-manager of the Group (freelancer)

Position 3 – Energy and Policy Analytic (freelancer)

- Financial resources: own and attracted*

Project Plan

№ / Stage Title / Duration / Tasks / Activities descriptionwithinphase / Stage results / Amount of Funding from the IRF
(EUR)
Stage 1 / Institutionalization / January 2016 / to draw the Group legal frameworks / - to define parliamentarians from Ukrainian and Dutch side, who are interested in the activities of the Group; / Memorandum on Creation of the Parliamentary Group of Support of Ukraine should be signed during the next stage.
- to identify the key areas of cooperation within the Group of Support;
- to hold series of meetingsand consultations regarding the priorities of the Group of Support in the Dutch Parliament;
- to prepare related documents and draft of the Memorandum on Creation of the Parliamentary Group of Support of Ukraine
Stage 2 / Parliamentary diplomacy, Sustainable development energy diplomacy / February 2016-March 2016 / to intensify bilateral dialog on issues of mutual interest
to strengthen cooperation in energy, using instruments of energy diplomacy / - to organize a visit of the Ukrainian parliamentarians to the Netherlands, during which they will have an opportunity to participate in informational YES-vote campaigns and find adherents within Dutch Parliament, giveinterviews to leading media of the Netherlands / -two parliamentary visits during the February-March 2016
- to organize a visit of the Dutch parliamentarians to Ukraine.
Stage 3 / Informational Campaign for YES-vote / March-April 2016 / to prevent the negative influence of eurosceptic moods on decision regarding the AA ratification / - meetings with officials MPs, Ministers
- participation in thematic round tables and expert public debates, press-conferences and briefings
- ensure the presence in the information field - interviews to leading media in Ukraine and the Netherlands and communication with publishing houses / - Investment Forum in the Netherlands in 2016
Stage 4 / Promotion of the AA benefits for both states / May-June 2016 / to maintain previous level of parliamentary diplomacy / - to publish analytical articles and giving interviews to leading media
- to continue the practice of meetings within the Group for Inter-parliamentary Relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands on regular basis / - high level of identification of Ukraine as European state with European values among Dutch citizens

Project Results

 Short-term results: Parliamentary diplomacy is particularly important in the current international environment. Creation of the Group will permit to accumulate and direct positive points and visions on implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. It will let to achieve a positive decision on the consultative referendum on the AA.

 Long-term results: Functioning of the Group will deepen the cooperation in the different fields, especially, in energy, agricultural, environmental, financial and banking sectors, in providing technical assistance to Ukraine, interact with business representatives to facilitate the business environment, attracting investment into the economy of both countries on permanent basis, exchange of the experience with the Netherlands in legislative support of renewable energy, energy efficiency technologies and other energy projects.

Project Information Support:

1. Methods of information disseminating on the project progress and its results among the general public and target audience:

-Media events (press conferences, presentations, quests, field studies, researches etc.)

-Generation of materials in the media (success stories, articles, studies, interviews, infographics, special projects, etc.)

-Online communication (social media, website, e-mail marketing, partnerships with online platforms, online research, viral campaigns, etc.)

-Information materials (brochures, posters, etc.).

-Partnership in using communication channels of other partners.

1. Cooperation with media, as well as Internet media, related to the information support of the project:

-Forming a pool of strategic media partners and loyal to the project media (other communication platforms)

-Generation and development of materials, formats, special projects, etc.

-Involvement of leading media to participate actively in projects development and promoting the key messages of this project.

Project risks

The project activities and planned activities of the management team can be accompanied by the common political and economic instability in Ukraine.

POST-project Activities

 After the project completed it is planned to continue developing informational component in favour of Ukraine, publish analytical articlesabout successful stories in the context of implementation of the Association Agreement and the DCFTA with Ukraine.

Annex 1.*

project budget for 6 month:

№ / Cost Items / Cost for one person
(EUR) / Total amount
(EUR) / Amount of Funding from the IRF
(%)
1. / GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
relatedtotheproject: / 100%
1.1. / Staff Wages: / 100%
-Secretary of the Group / 500€ / 500€*6=3000€
-PR-manager of the Group* / 1000€ / 1000€*6=6000€
-Energy and Policy Analytic* / 2000€ / 2000€*6=12000€
2. / OPERATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS:
For 2 parliamentary visits / 100%
2.1. / - travel costs for 5 persons (Common travel plan: Kyiv-Hague-Kyiv):
Kyiv-Amsterdam by plane - KLM / 250€ / (250€*5)*2=2500€
Amsterdam-Hague by train / 22€ / (22€*5)*2=220€
Hague-Amsterdam by train / 22€ / (22€*5)*2=220€
Amsterdam-Kyiv by plane - KLM / 250€ / (250€*5)*2=2500€
2.2. / - transfers costs during the visit (transfer from/to the airport, municipal transport etc.) / 130€ / (130€*5)*2=1300€ / 100%
2.3. / - accommodation for 5 persons (2 days visits) / 200€*2=400€ / (400€*5)*2 =
=4000€ / 100%
2.4. / - per diem for 5 persons (2 days visits) / 100€*2=200€ / (200€*5)*2=2000€ / 100%
3. / OTHER COSTS: / 100%
3.1. / Information and Material Support:
-Informational materials, booklets
-Printing services for activities / 450€ per 1 month / 450€*6=2700€ / 100%
3.2. / Stationery / 200€ per 1 month / 200€*6=1200€ / 100%
3.3. / Banking services / 100€ per 1 month / 100€*6=600€ / 100%
Total project budget: / 38 240€