Sweden believes that Ukraine’s move towards the EU is the best guarantee for democratic and economic development. To manage this adjustment, Ukraine must create more open and effective public administration.
As a result of the political instability and risk of corruption, we have chosen to continue with project support.
Sweden’s support is largely about the cooperation between Swedish and Ukrainian authorities and organizations. This complements other donors’ support. For example, the EU gives Ukraine budgetary support, while Sweden has chosen to continue with project support.
Sweden’s targets within democracy are:
- More efficient and transparent public administration that is closer to European standards and European norms.
We are therefore helping the country to create better public financial management, so that the state can use the country’s resources more efficiently and avoid corruption. However, the political instability and lack of democratic tradition is complicating this work.
Many vulnerable groups
About one quarter of the country’s population is poor according to the country’s own definition. Poverty has fallen, but the social welfare systems function poorly. One of the programmes we are financing, together with the World Bank, aims to create a more effective social insurance system, which will protect the most vulnerable groups.
The lack of gender equality is a problem. We, the EU and the UNDP are therefore supporting work to improve the understanding of gender equality issues and strengthen the position of women through the state and voluntary organizations.
Sweden is committed to working within the EU to combat human trafficking. In Ukraine, we have been supporting the International Organization for Migration’s project for many years to protect victims of human trafficking and bring those guilty to trial.
The Swedish Migration Board is also implementing a project to bring the country’s migration and asylum laws in line with European standards. The proximity to the EU and poverty in the region have increased human trafficking in and through Ukraine.
Another vulnerable group, particularly in Eastern Europe, is the Roma and the work to defend Roma rights is therefore receiving our support.
Environmental investments with Swedish technology
Sweden’s targets within natural resources and the environment are:
- Increasing Ukrainian authorities’ ability to implement EU-adapted legislation and regulations within the area of the environment and climate.
- Reducing pollution in the air, on the ground and in the water, as well as higher energy efficiency.
Authorities’ ability to manage environmental problems at European level also needs to be improved within the environmental area. Major investments are also necessary for sewage treatment, waste management and low-energy technology.
We are working to both train and improve the institutions with environmental technology. Many Swedish companies are good in these areas and are involved in the development assistance.
We are involved in financing a major infrastructural programme that the World Bank is running in Ukraine’s cities. This is helping to finance investments in water, sewage and waste management, as well as improving energy efficiency.
You can find a list of the projects that Sweden is supporting here. We are also supporting several Swedish non-governmental organizations that are involved in development cooperation in Ukraine.
