Eastern Partnership and its prospects with a view of legal approximation, rule of law and human rights

The realisation of the project enables to do the scientific conclusions on the related issues, the formulation of the appropriate strategies for the EU in the field of the negotiation and implementation of the new generation of the Association Agreements and to do the recommendations concerning the improvement of the preparedness of the Partnership countries in this respect. The great part of the project is dedicated to the research of how the modifications of Lisbon Treaty in the external relations law affect the policy of Eastern Neighbourhood. The project, which is based on the narrow research cooperation among Jean Monnet Chairholders from the Member States and Partnership state enables to examine the issues from the different points of view: from the perspective of Eastern neighbours and also to reflect the fresh experience of the new Member States concerning the implementation of the Association Agreements, acceptation of the acquis communautaire, respect to human rights and the preparedness of the judicial and administrative capacity to take over the European Unions standards.

So, the aim of the project is a creation of the multilateral research group among 4 Jean Monnet Chairs from 4 countries: including 3 from Member States (old – Germany, young – Czech Republic, Slovak Republic) and from 1 Partnership State (Ukraine), with participation of 3 young researchers, which leads to an integrated academic network, which enables the preparation of publication with scientific added value.

Apart of this, the organisation of 1 workshop and 2 conferences is envisaged, where the parts of the research results in the selected areas of general topic will be presented.

• The workshop with the title “EU Law and Human Rights in Education and Civil Sector of the Partnership States” took place in Bratislava (April 2012) under the patronage of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia. This forum, which was held with the participation of the teachers and researchers from Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and Belarus (already confirmed) and from Member States also involved the representatives from high and secondary schools, representatives of NGO and reflected their experience. This seminar enabled to do the empirical assessment, comparison and recommendations concerning the improving of the education, teaching and training on EU matters and human rights in these countries, using the experience of old and new Member States.
• The Conference with the title “Preparedness for the Acceptation of the Duties of the Association Country in the Field of Human Rights, Approximation of Laws and Judicial and Administrative Capacity,” which was held in Kiev (Kiev-Mohyla Academy in September 2012), was dedicated to the evaluation of progress in the related area and the formulation of proposals de lege ferenda. It involved not only the academics, but the representatives of Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, Ombudsman of Ukraine, judges, lawyers and members of NGO.
• The final Conference with the title “From the Eastern Partnership to the Association Agreements – the Great Debate” will be held in Prague (May 2013) and will be organised in cooperation with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affair and with the participation of the Commissioner for the enlargement Štefan Fülle. The Conference will serve for the presentation of the main outputs of the research and will involve the academics from the Member States, of the Partnership states (Ukraine and Georgia). Besides, the representatives of the European Parliament, European Court of Human Rights and Court of Justice of the EU as well as journalists and members of the professional organisations will participate as well.

The main output of the project is the production of the mayor academic publication in the form of monograph (in English) with the title: “From Eastern Partnership to the Association. The Legal and Political Analysis”. Each chapter will be dedicated to one aspect of general topic, which will be prepared by different authors involved in the project and will demonstrate the multidisciplinary approaches. This book will be published in English by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, the well-known publisher from the Great Britain.