We invite you to attend the two day "EU-Ukraine Quo Vadis: Evidence-Based Politics, Policy and Practice" Workshop on May 24 and 25 at the University of Manchester and two public lectures:

PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE: May 24th 17:00 – 19:00 "From Streaming the Revolution to Fighting Fake News: Ukraine, EU, UK and Russia Today" Ms. Natalia Gumeniuk, Co-Founder and Head of Hromadske TV, Mr. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Co-Founder Ukraine Media Crisis and Ukraine Davos House Co-Organizer, Prof. Vera Tolz, REES, SALC, University of Manchester, Prof. Stephen Hutchings, REES, SALC, University of Manchester.

PUBLIC LECTURE: May 25th 17:30 – 19:00 JMCE ANNUAL LECTURE: Mr Serhiy Leshchenko, MP Ukrainian Parliament and Journalist.

Workshop Speakers include:

Politicians, Policy Makers, and Public Figures:

1. Mr. Serhiy Leshchenko, MP Ukrainian Parliament and Journalist,
2. Dr. Pawel Kowal, Member of the European Parliament for Poland Together, Chairman of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in the European Parliament, Former Secretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
3. Ms. Natalia Gumeniuk, Co-Founder and Head of Hromadske TV,
4. Mr. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Co-Founder Ukraine Media Crisis and Ukraine Davos House Co-Organizer,
5. Mr. Robert Brinkley, Chairman, Steering Committee, Ukraine Forum, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Former High Commissioner to Pakistan (2006-2009) and Ambassador to Ukraine (2002-2006),
6. Dr. Andrew Foxall, Director of Research, Director, Russia and Eurasia Studies Centre, The Henry Jackson Society,
7. Mr. Thomas de Waal, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe.

Visiting Academics:

1. Dr. André Härtel, Political Science Department, NaUKMA,
2. Prof. Kataryna Wolczuk, Politics Department, Birmingham University,
3. Ms. Maryna Rabinovych, PhD Student, Odessa National University,
4. Ms. Pauline Heinrichs, PhD student, Royal Holloway University, Jean Monnet project on “EU-Ukraine Crisis Diplomacy",
5. Prof. Ben OLoughlin, Professor of IR Royal Holloway University, Jean Monnet project on “EU-Ukraine Crisis Diplomacy",
6. Dr. Anastasiya Shesterinina, Politics Department, Sheffield University,
7. Prof. Andrew Wilson, Politics Department, University College of London,
8. Prof. Taras Kuzio, Department of Political Science, National University "Kyiv Mohyla Academy" & Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins University,
9. Dr. Fani Toth, Politics Department, Nottingham University.

University of Manchester Academics:

1. Dr. Olga Onuch, Politics Department, University of Manchester,
2. Dr. Paul Tobin, Politics Department, University of Manchester,
3. Dr. Sofia Tipaldou, Marie Curie Fellow, SALC, University of Manchester,
4. Dr. Nicole Martin, Politics Department, University of Manchester,
5. Prof. Vera Tolz, REES, SALC, University of Manchester,
6. Prof. Stephen Hutchings, REES, SALC, University of Manchester,
7. Prof. Dimitris Papadimitriou, Politics Department and JMCE, University of Manchester,
8. Dr. Martin Coward, Politics Department, University of Manchester,
9. Prof. Matthew Paterson, Politics Department, University of Manchester.

Introduction: Over the last decade and a half, Ukraine - European Union (EU) relations have become an increasingly important element in the political environment of Europe (and in the stability of Ukraine). Ukraine declared its intention of closer ties and integration into the EU in 1993. On 2 July 1993, the Parliament of Ukraine (the Verkhovna Rada) adopted the resolution “On the Key Directions of the Foreign Policy of Ukraine.” The resolution clearly states that: the priority of Ukrainian foreign policy is Ukrainian membership in the European Communities...In order to maintain stable relations with the EU, Ukraine shall conclude a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the implementation of which shall become the first step towards its association and, later, full membership in this organization (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 2012).

This policy has been supported by all future parliaments and Presidents including Kuchma, Yushchenko and Yanukovych – that is, until the unexpected shift in policy by the Yanukovych regime on 21 November 2013, when Prime Minister Azarov announced that Ukraine will not be signing the EU Association Agreements as planned. The outcome of this decision resulted in a three-month mass mobilization called the EuroMaidan (with over 100 civilian deaths and many more casualties), the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the Russian sponsored conflict in the Donbas Basin. The on-going crisis in Ukraine, one may argue, is the product of obstacles in EU-Ukraine relations prior to 2013 and not simply the aftermath of 2014 alone. This includes both the inability of the EU to act as a united actor on the Ukrainian question (offering few carrots and threatening many sticks which would essentially keep things at a status quo) and the capacity of Russia to offer more carrots (and possibly also threaten more sticks) to the Yanukovych Regime. Whilst the EU has been plagued with its own series of crises and EU member states have been preoccupied with their own contentious relationships with the EU (not least the case of the UK’s Brexit), the issue of EU-Ukraine relations remains unclear, and where this relationship will go next remains unanswered. What will the relationship between the EU and Ukraine look like in the near future? Will it focus on economic ties and opportunities for closer trade relations or will it also include measures to strengthen local governance, help fight corruption, and encourage strong civic rights in Ukraine? What will the effect of the UK leaving the EU have on this relationship? How will the EU continue to engage with Russia and promote democracy, the protection of human rights and stability in Ukraine? Will the EU and its member states take a more active role in solving the Russo-Ukrainian conflict in the east of the country? Thus, there is a clear need to bring together experts who study and policymakers who are involved in EU-Ukraine relations from across the EU (with a specific focus on scholars based in the UK and Ukraine) to enable us to collectively answer Ukraine Quo Vadis?

The key focus of the workshop would be thus, to combine and complement recent advances in empirical and theoretical knowledge of EU-Ukraine relations. Participant paper/presentation contributions will seek to examine the following themes:

1. EU-Ukraine relations and their role in shaping democracy and political development in Ukraine,
2. EU-Ukraine relations and their role in human rights and support for civil society in Ukraine,
3. EU-Ukraine relations and their role in shaping finance and trade,
4. The EU as a vehicle for conflict resolution and role of EU relations with Russia in Russo-Ukrainian Conflict,
5. EU-Eastward Enlargement in a time of Brexit,
6. Brexit and its impact on UK-Ukraine relations,
7. Brexit and its impact on EU-Ukraine relations.

We are particularly interested in having a deliberate mix of scholars, policy practitioners and journalists. This will not only make our discussions more interesting as the different types of stakeholders have the opportunity to interact and influence each others thinking, research and practice – it will also enable us to make clear evidence-based policy recommendations.

Are you a Post-Gradate Student writing your Dissertation and are interested in showcasing your research on any topic related to:

Then we would be thrilled to have you present a poster at our workshop in May.

If you are interested let me know by filling out this quick form: https://goo.gl/forms/SHoBTaAl8l4A9Ek92