Project: Contribution to Eurasia Competitiveness Programme
Beneficiary: OECD
Start : January 2016
The OECD Eurasia competitiveness programme consists of two initiatives: 1) the Initiative for Eastern Europe and the Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) and 2) the Initiative for Central Asia (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
The aim of the program is to develop and implement policies that promote competitiveness in these countries. This is done by first investigating the causes of the lack of competitiveness and second encouraging countries to implement appropriate policies in line with OECD legal instruments and policy standards. To facilitate this process, the program focuses on capacity building. There is also a system of peer reviews, in which good practices are exchanged and progress is monitored in the area of implemented reforms.
The Flemish contribution is deployed in Ukraine. In Ukraine, specific work is being done on the development and implementation of an institutional framework that meets current needs in Ukraine.
A contribution to the Eurasia competitiveness program gives concrete substance to objective 1.3 of the policy memorandum which states that Flanders is specifically present in multilateral organizations and that multilateral organizations are put forward as a means to respond to "current situations". Cooperation with the OECD is specifically mentioned in this passage of the policy memorandum.
European policy towards Ukraine is one of economic support, trade liberalization, support and encouragement of reforms (in terms of legislation). A contribution to the Eurasia competitiveness program fits in perfectly with this. The EU is also one of the major donors of this project.
Through this contribution, Flanders contributes to the implementation of SDG 16 "Peaceful and inclusive societies", which emphasizes the importance of effective, accountable and inclusive bodies.