Ukraine, due to its geographical location, and the importance it has in maintaining stability and security in the region, remains to be a vital strategic partner for Poland.

In 2004, Ukraine underwent far-reaching political changes known as the Orange Revolution. The new Ukrainian authorities commenced deep social and economic reforms. The year 2005 brought problems typical for the process of transformation: considerable slowdown in the economic growth and a serious government crisis. The development of democracy in Ukraine, its total sovereignty and co-operation with European and Atlantic institutions are of great importance and should be supported by Poland. Ukraine above all needs a far-reaching political reform which would contribute to the legitimacy of the authorities and to the increase in transparency and responsibility.

Since 2006, the funds allotted to Ukraine may be classified as the Official Development Assistance.

Polish assistance initiatives carried out in Ukraine include:

• support for the Ukrainian efforts to enter the European Union structures.
• promotion of the co-operation between Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic institutions;
• strengthening of central administration including co-operation on the legislation that regulates social relationships in civil service, collaboration in the field of increasing effectiveness and improving performance of state administration, and organisation of professional training for civil servants;
• support for systemic reform of economy and widely understood economic transformation;
• self-government and territorial reform (especially expertise support for the Ukrainian Parliament, specialised trainings and traineeships for representatives of self-governments, regional and cross-border co-operation.
• social reforms (especially focused on changes in education system, youth exchange programmes, pension scheme reform, healthcare reform, combating HIV/AIDS and drug addition);
• development of agriculture (namely specialised training sessions, traineeships for employees of the organisations and institutions responsible for agriculture);
• civil society building (especially traineeships for journalists on editorial boards of Polish national and local newspapers, in news agencies and in public and private television; the role of trade unions in free market economy);
• support for the environmental protection.

In 2006, the aid provided to Ukraine was significantly increased. The scope of the initiatives undertaken was also extended to include the following:

Ukraine on the path to the European and Euro-Atlantic integration

This project, implemented by the National In-service Teacher Training Centre, dealt with support to Ukrainian society during the integration process into the European Union and NATO structures. Training sessions were organised for people responsible for European education in schools and local communities. Ukrainian teachers could familiarise themselves with working methods and educational materials on European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and also an educational brochure entitled "Ukraine in Europe" was published in the Ukrainian language. Owing to these initiatives a network of regional leaders of European and Euro-Atlantic education was created in Ukrainian schools.

Cross-border co-operation of the Border Guard Forces of the Republic of Poland and State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Co-operation within the framework of this project dealt with two issues of utmost importance both for Ukraine and Poland, namely smuggling of vehicles and people. During workshops and practical training sessions, officials of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service familiarised themselves with visa policy and administrative procedures undertaken towards foreigners staying in Poland and in the European Union territory, as well as with modern methods of personal identification at border crossings.

Transparent self-government in Ukraine - education for the Ukrainian local self-governments in the field of modern public administration management

Quality management in administration is of crucial importance in countries undergoing transformation. The project, aimed at improving transparency of the Ukrainian public administration, was based on sharing experience related to modern systems of managing public administration and local democracy between Poland and Ukraine.

The participants of the project visited the Town Hall in Leczna, which, owing to the programmes "Transparent Commune" and "Transparent Poland" has introduced the rules for transparency, zero-tolerance for corruption, social participation, accountability, professionalism and responsibility.

S.E.N.S.E. Training (Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise)

S.E.N.S.E. Training (Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise) was arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence and the Centre for East European Studies of the University of Warsaw for 45 high and medium level civil servants of the Ukrainian central administration, representatives of the legislature, business associations and NGOs. Seven-day-long training sessions consisted of seminars and computer simulations. Following lectures by Polish experts who introduced the issues of social, political and economic transformation, participants in the training sessions had an opportunity to put their skills of managing transformation processes into practice by participating in a computer simulation which represented the functioning of an imaginary country.

The simulation that used the software created by the American Institute for Defence Analyses, took place in the War Games and Simulation Centre of National Defence University in Rembertow. This strategic game allowed participants to observe relations and connections between economic development and the creation of democratic society, as well as gave them an opportunity to acquire knowledge about free market economy mechanisms. It also permitted them to get hands-on experience in managing an economic system undergoing transformation.

In 2008, PLN 16 million was allocated for the development assistance provided to Ukraine.