Ernst Reichel
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine
DOI https://doi.org/10.37837/2707-7683-2018-27
Abstract. The article delineates the strengthening of the partnership between Germany and Ukraine. Germany was among the first countries to recognise independence of Ukraine. Nowadays, it is one of its key partners and friends. After gaining independence, a lot of programs and agreements were developed in Ukraine to enhance bilateral relations. After the Revolution of Dignity, Germany considerably broadened its obligations in the field of technical and financial cooperation.
Within the cooperative framework, Germany focuses its attention on three paramount areas: 1) stable economic growth; 2) democracy, civil society, public administration, and decentralisation; 3) energy efficiency.
Germany has allocated millions of euros for restoring communal infrastructure in the east of Ukraine destroyed in the conflict and facilities used by internally displaced persons. It has also provided cold-resistant accommodation for more than 2,300 people.
Given a great number of familiarising and training programmes for various target groups, specifically for employees of regional state administrations, Ukrainian entrepreneurs, lawyers, and judges, German experts seek to share their experience and practices with representatives of Ukrainian authorities. Furthermore, cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada was launched, enabling us to recruit alumni of German higher educational institutions for practice.
The intensity of the political dialogue and remarkable political interest Germany shows in the course of stable, peaceful, and democratic development of sovereign Ukraine are the genuinely important factors for the relations between Germany and Ukraine.
The German government consistently and unequivocally supports Ukraine in its legal aspiration to restore territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Keywords: Germany, German-Ukrainian relations, political dialogue, democratic development, partnership.