On July 2nd, the European Commission has decided to grant an additional €85 million to the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) for 2010. This will allow neighbouring partner countries to leverage increased funding for major investment projects in key areas such as energy, transport and environment, as well as in the social sector (for projects such as construction of schools and hospitals). Private sector development will also be encouraged, targeting especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Далі

The European Union announced today the results of its annual International Drawing Competition on gender equality with a Ukrainian pupil, Olga Chumachenko, winning one of the top prizes in the contest. Далі

Spain’s EU presidency will be remembered for its “messy” foreign policy and the invisibility of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero. It began with a hacker putting the face of a TV character, Mr Bean, a comic bumbler who bears a passing resemblance to the Spanish leader, on the Spanish presidency website at the moment of its launch in January. Далі

Belgium took over the rotating six-month EU Presidency on July 1st, and will pass it to Hungary on January 1st 2011. Далі

“This is an unimaginable catastrophe in Europe. Europe has encountered a great loss. Poland is living through an indescribable tragedy. Never before in Europe have so many high ranking persons, democratically-elected by the people, died in a plane crash. They were on duty working on behalf of citizens. Далі

The European Association of Ukrainians extend their deepest condolence to Polish colleagues on the tragedy which happened yestarday in the Russian Federation. Sharing all the pain of loss, we wish to support Polish people and the state at this hard time.

The main post-presidential election challenge for Ukraine’s politicians and authorities is to stabilise the country politically and economically by reforming its constitution and establishing a social market economy, says Parliament in a resolution voted on Thursday. MEPs welcomed the fact that the presidential election met most free and fair election standards, with a range of candidates offering alternative political views.

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Five years ago, Ukraine’s presidential elections captured the imagination as Viktor Yushchenko emerged triumphant. Далі

This is the result of an experts opinion poll carried out by “Aksia” Political Values Research Center after the OU-PSD faction had proposed I.Pliushch for the post of Verkhovna Rada Speaker on Monday. Далі

The European Commission proposed Wednesday that the EU improve stability on its eastern doorstep by improving relations with Ukraine and five other ex-Soviet republics, countries Moscow regards as its backyard, AP reported. Далі