The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow around the world to all spheres of life that affect the well-being of society, including the economic and social development. For example, according to a report by the Caritas-Italy Foundation on October 16, 2021, the number of people living outside poverty in Italy has increased by 1 million since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the United Nations, more than 114 million jobs were lost during the pandemic, and an additional 120 million people found themselves below the poverty line. In total, according to the UN, almost 16 trillion dollars have been allocated as a means of stimulating the economy. However, the UN also emphasizes that the pandemic has increased inequality in the world, and worsened the situation of people from vulnerable groups around the world.

Dear Colleagues and Partners!

Presenting the final report about our work in the past year, I would like to emphasize a couple of significant events and projects, implemented by the Bureau of Social and Political developments. Our experts analyzed the conditions of the implementation and correspondence of the norms of Ukrainian law: three out of six antidiscrimination directions, which require first-priority implementation according to the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement; presented analytical report “Analysis of the regulation of equality and non-discrimination in access to work, provision of services and social security: assessment of the state of implementation of EU anti-discrimination directives by Ukraine” in collaboration with project “Civic Synergy”.

The Bureau continued its work in the countries of the Eastern Partnership. The Social Partnership for Equality project has been implemented, analytical documents have been developed on the situation of gender equality and non-discrimination in the workplace and in access to employment in Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia, thereby establishing a stable cross-border dialogue between governmental and community organizations, in this area.

The Ukrainian and European Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) under EU-Ukraine Association Agreement met on Brussels 7 November 2019 The representatives of the European and Ukrainian Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs),  Agenda  set up under the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, held their third joint meeting in Brussels on 6 November 2019.  The participants expressed their commitment to fulfilling the mandate laid down in the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the Association Agreement, to monitor the implementation of the Chapter and to provide advice to the Parties to the Agreement.

The Ukrainian and European Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) under EU-Ukraine Association Agreement met on 14 November 2018 in Kiev during the Second Civil Society Forum devoted to the implementation of the provisions of Chapter 13 "Trade and Sustainable Development" of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Association Agreement).

The participants were informed by the representatives of the government authorities of Ukraine and the European Commission on the joint statement of the EU-Ukraine Subcommittee on Trade and Sustainable Development (hereinafter referred to as the Subcommittee).

During the Forum, the discussions took place on the issues related to trade and employment, environment, sustainable forest management and other issues related to trade and sustainable development.

 The representatives of the EU civil society emphasized the role of values and principles of democracy, such as freedom of speech, the prevention and fight against corruption, access to information and justice, and the observance of high social and environmental standards in the framework of the EU trade and investment policy towards Ukraine.

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