15 May 2015 Federation of Employers of Ukraine. Development of Ukraine

Agency for the Modernization of Ukraine Develops Reforms Programme

The AMU-team starts working on a programme for the modernization of Ukraine. This was stated by the director of the organization Michael Spindelegger. The reforms programme process of the Ukrainian Constitution, legal system and state institutions, modernization of the economy, trade, health and other areas was launched at the meeting in Vienna with the participation of all work stream leaders.
 
“We want to support Ukraine on the way of getting both feet standing firmly on the ground and becoming on a par with Europe”, describes the AMU President Michael Spindelegger the fundamental aim of the AMU. “The base for this would be the developed democracy and flourishing economy,” stresses Vice-Chancellor of Austria in 2008-2014 and the Minister of Finance of Austria in 2013-2014.
 
Also, the AMU director noted that for 200 days distinguished experts and politicians from all over Europe would provide a clear comprehensive plan for the modernization of Ukraine. In addition, Michael Spindelegger assured that the agency would use not only the expertise of prominent experts and experienced politicians from the EU, another important aspect of the work of AMU was a cooperation with the social partners represented by the Federation of Employers of Ukraine and Ukrainian trade unions, at the suggestion of which, the AMU was founded.

The modernization program covering seven work streams to be completed by mid-September of this year and submitted to the Ukrainian parliament.

The seven Workstream Leaders, who will contribute their, contracted, independent expertise are:   

- Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz for the work stream “Anti-Corruption”, former Prime Minister in 1996-1997, Minister of Justice in Poland in 2001-2005. He signed the Accession Treaty, which paved the way for Poland's membership in the European Union.
- Professor Otto Depenheuer: “Constitution“, Professor of constitutional law, public law and philosophy of law at the University of Cologne
- Bernard Kouchner: „Healthcare“, former Minister of Public Health and Humanitarian Affairs in France in 2007-2010, Founder of Doctors without Borders.
- Lord MacDonald, QC: “Rule of Law”, member of the House of Lords and the Deputy High Court Judge. He served as the Prosecutor General of England and Wales in 2003 – 2008.
- Waldemar Pawlak: “Economy”, former Prime Minister (1993-1995) and the Minister of Economy in Poland (2007-2010).
- Peer Steinbrück: “Tax & Budget”, served as the German Federal Minister of Finance in 2005- 2009. Peer Steinbruck is one of the architect of the Euro protection program during the 2008 economic crisis. Between 2002 and 2005 he was the prime minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Günter Verheugen: “EU-Integration”, from 2004 to 2010 he served as Vice-President of the European Commission for Enterprise and Industry. In 1999-2004 he served as European Commissioner for Enlargement.
In the summer of 2015 the AMU leaders plan to organize a large round-table. A series of round-table discussions will begin in early June with the “Anti-Corruption” work stream. Meetings will be held with the participation of non-governmental organizations and citizens of Ukraine.
 

NOTE

The Agency for the modernization of Ukraine is a non-governmental organization founded on March 3, 2015 by the Federation of Employers of Ukraine and Ukraine's largest trade union organizations. The AMU is aiming to attract the world's leading experts for the development of a comprehensive reform programme for Ukraine and search for investment resources for the implementation of such reforms. The initiator of the Agency establishment is Dmitry Firtash, a Ukrainian businessman, President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine.