Just a quick post today as I go through the statements of the EaP gathering in Warsaw yesterday to see if there is anything worthy of special note to write about and post tomorrow.
Already it has been stated that there will be increased funding for civil society from the EU. Funding one supposes is aimed at NGOs targeting various goals. One hopes that would be domestic, grass roots NGOs and not imported NGOs from foreign lands.
Why? Well it is the “them” and “us” factor. As well intended (or otherwise) and as well received (or not) the foreign NGOs think they are, or are given to believe they are by the academia of Ukraine, the general public are still far more likely to support and understand domestic NGOs that have emerged from within themselves rather than those parachuted in from abroad. It’s all to do with “identity” and really being “one of us” and therefore having a supposed better understanding of “us” that foreigners will never truly understand.
Unfortunately such announcements of increased funding come at a time when fraud and unaccountability raise its head amongst the EU once again. Opaqueness, fraud and unaccountability is not news to the citizens within the EU any more than it is to the citizens of Ukraine, however the timing of such a release when the EU is lecturing the EaP nations about transparency, rule of law and democracy could possibly have been better.
On the same day as fraud and unaccountability raises its head in the EU via press releases, also released is a list of Member States who are not complying to EU laws. As you can see, not one Member State appears to be in full compliance.
When the EU is about to lecture the EaP nations about rule of law, transparency, democracy and human rights, is it wise on the eve of such a summit to broadcast the extent of EU fraud and unaccountability together with a list showing no Member State is fully complying with EU diktats?
Who is lecturing the EaP on democracy? Cathy Ashton, Von Rompuy et al who were not elected to their positions as heads of the EU but were appointed. Not one EU citizen voted for them to be in those roles.
Where is this gathering being held where human rights is on the agenda? Poland, a nation who only a few years ago secretly hosted a US black prison (along with several other EU nations it must be said) where human rights concerns were ignored and have been lambasted by their general populations for doing so as well as other governments and NGOs.
Hmmmm.
Returning to civil society and additional funding as promised by Stefan Fule a few days ago, it seems that the trade unions in Ukraine are already stealing a march on holding the leadership to account. Very good, although one hopes that the EU funding will not go to fund the Ukrainian trade unions despite their role in civil society and the influence they have over their members and government.
Anyway, the question is, was the timing of the recognition of deep-seated and everlasting EU fraud and exposure of Member States failing to adhere to EU laws particularly good on the eve of the EaP summit when the EU is going to lecture the EaP nations on their short-comings in these areas?