The constituent meeting of the Ukrainian side of the Trade and Sustainable Development Advisory Group was held.

The Advisory Group on Trade and Sustainable Development has established, in accordance with Article 299 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, on the other hand (hereafter UAA) and consists of independent representative non-governmental organizations, the Advisory Group includes organizations of employers and trade unions, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties. The selection of participants of the Advisory Group was carried out by the Council on Trade and Sustainable Development, established in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated June 13, 2018 No. 478, in accordance with the Basic Criteria and Procedure for the Selection of Independent Representative Non-Governmental Organizations approved at the meeting of the Trade and Sustainable Development September 10, 2018. The general list of independent non-governmental organizations that form the Advisory Group on Trade and Sustainable Development (hereinafter the Advisory Group) was approved by the Council on October 26, 2018, which includes:

Public organization "Bureau of Social and Political Developments"

Association "Transport, forwarding and logistics organizations in Ukraine" Ukrzovnishtrans ": All-Ukrainian NGO" Living Planet "

 NGO "Institute of Green Economy"

All-Ukrainian public organization "Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation"

Public organization "Resource and Analytical Center" Society and Environment "

NGO "Union of Tenants and Entrepreneurs of Ukraine"

NGO "Center of Public Representation" Life "

International Charitable Organization "Information Center" Green Dossier ";

Union of construction workers and construction materials industry of Ukraine;

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine

Federation of trade unions of small and medium enterprises of Ukraine;

Federation of Employers of Ukraine

Kherson Regional Public Organization "Regional Council of Entrepreneurs"

The European side of the Trade and Sustainable Development Advisory Group was established in November 2016 on the initiative of the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee and acts on the basis of the Rules and Procedures of the EU Advisory Group established in accordance with Article 299 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU composition:

Business representatives:

Alfredas Jonuška - European Economic and Social Committee

Sofia Bournou - Businesseurope

Dominic Boucsein - Eurochambres

Silvia Melegari - European Organization of the Sawmill Industry

Representatives of trade unions:

Christophe Quarez - European Economic and Social Committee

Józef Niemiec - European Trade Union Confederation

Penny Clarke -European Trade Union Confederation

Anton Leppik - International Trade Unions Confederation

Other representatives:

Lukáš Curylo - European Economic and Social Committee

Stephanie Ghislain - "Eurogroup for Animals"

Marco Schwarz - Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Iliana Axiotiades - COCERAL (Association of producers and exporters of cereals, rice, forage, oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats, agricultural supply)

The inaugural meeting of the Ukrainian side of the Advisory Group was held on November 8, 2018 in Kyiv, at the Club of Quality Leaders, during which the composition of the Advisory Group was approved, a contact person was identified, a working group was formed for the elaboration of the rules and procedures, as well as the topics and agenda of the Forum civil society, which will take place on November 14, 2018 in Kiev. In accordance with Article 299 of the UA, members of the Advisory Group of each Party meet in an open Civil Society Forum to support a dialogue covering aspects of the sustainable development of trade relations between the Parties. The Civil Society Forum is held once a year, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. This year, Ukraine will be the host as the EU-Ukraine Subcommittee on Trade and Sustainable Development, as well as the Civil Society Forum. At the meeting of the Subcommittee, representatives of the authorities meet, and, accordingly, its meetings are organized by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and the Forum, in its turn, is a meeting between the civil society of Ukraine and the EU.

The dialogue conducted by the Civil Society Forum should not negatively affect the role of the EU-Ukraine Platform for Civil Society created in accordance with the article. This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Bureau of social & political developments and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union

Науково-достідний інститут Unicef Black sea trust for regional cooperation Civil Society Forum КМДА international renaissance foundation Карітас України