Ireland’s role in the region

1. Ireland’s role in the region John Gilroy Deputy Director Programme Countries Irish Aid Department of Foreign Affairs *john.gilroy@dfa.ie

2. Ireland’s Role in the Region Background • The dissolution of the former USSR in 1991 has been a catalyst for far-reaching change in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union • Despite many dramatic and welcome improvements in the region over the past twenty years, not all change has been positive

3. The Former USSR • The former USSR has split into a mosaic of different countries including the Russian Federation, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and those new states to the east of the Caspian sea • The Russian Federation remains the dominant power in much of Eastern Europe • Despite huge reserves of natural resources, income inequality in Russia remains problematic. Simmering conflict continues in Chechnya. Russia remains a country in transition to a fully functioning modern administration and market economy and is acutely feeling the effects of the current economic downturn

4. The Former USSR • The former USSR was a multi-ethnic country. Its break-up has seen the question of respect for minority rights move up the agenda, in the new countries of the region • Inter-community tensions have not been helped by widespread poverty, a general failure to diversify economically, environmental degradation, corruption and administrative weakness

5. Irish Aid’s role in Eastern Europe • Enlightened self interest: • Some are now direct neighbours of the EU and so Ireland is directly affected by events there • Stable prosperous neighbours are more predictable in their policies and less likely to export problems • These countries are increasingly important to the EU as trading partners and sources of raw materials

6. Irish Aid’s role in Eastern Europe • Irish Aid’s engagement in the region aims at tackling poverty and assisting with the transition to democracy in the region • Irish Aid focuses on projects that address poverty alleviation, human rights, governance, strengthening civil society and democratic transition

7. Irish Aid’s role in Eastern Europe • Irish Aid’s partners in the region are international organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) together with Irish and international NGOs

8. Irish Aid Goals in Europe and Central Asia • The objectives of the programme are to promote:

9. Irish Aid Goals in Europe and Central Asia • Poverty Reduction with a particular focus on support for disadvantaged / vulnerable groups • Sustainable development and the improvement of livelihood security • Building the capacity of Government, at all levels, to respond to the needs of its citizens • Democratisation and Human Rights • Strengthening the voice of civil society organisations so they can influence policy, both at local and national levels, for the promotion of sustainable development and the improvement of livelihood security

10. Partnership Programme for Europe and Central Asia (PPECA) • The Partnership programme for Europe and Central Asia was established within Irish Aid in 2001 to meet these goals • Support has been provided on an individual project basis to organisations engaged in areas of poverty reduction, sustainable development, livelihood security, Government capacity building, democratisation and human rights, strengthening voice of civil society

11. Partnership Programme for Europe and Central Asia (PPECA) • Irish Aid funding to the region has encompassed some twenty countries which vary in economic strength, political stability and wealth of natural resources

12. • Albania • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Belarus • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Croatia • Georgia • Kazakhstan • Kosovo • Kyrgyzstan • Moldova • Montenegro • Serbia • Tajikistan • Turkmenistan • Ukraine • Uzbekistan • Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

13. Partnership Programme for Europe and Central Asia (PPECA) • Since its inception, Irish Aid's programme in the region has focused on the needs of vulnerable groups and contributed to stability and democratic transition in the region • Since 2005 Irish Aid has disbursed over €31 million to partner organisations and projects in 20 countries

14. Achievements • Irish Aid provides funding to projects which address the causes of long-term poverty, human rights or governance issues, and to those which strengthen civil society or which facilitate transition to free market economies • Through its involvement in the region Irish Aid has supported marginalized and vulnerable groups by, for example, assisting with the closure of large orphanages and similar institutions and the integration of inmates back into the community. We have also funded programmes to support inclusive education • Specific examples include:

15. Achievements • Social development programmes with disabled young people in Georgia and Romania to foster de-institutionalisation and independent living. Positive results from this programme are contributing to changing negative societal attitudes to disability in the region • The drafting of a ‘Book of Rules’ on court procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina which is resulting in improvements in the functioning of the Courts • Improved capacity of journalists in Central Asia to investigate and report on human rights abuses, especially those related to torture and ill-treatment. A series of actions were undertaken to highlight and advocate against the practice of torture in the Central Asian republics • Upgrading of plastic, orthopaedic and general surgical skills and facilities at the Mother Theresa Hospital in Albania and the treatment of over 400 patients as part of the hospital training programme

16. Chernobyl • In the early hours of 26 April 1986, one of four nuclear reactors at the Chernobyl power station exploded sending out huge amounts of radioactive debris into the atmosphere

17. Long term effects include internal displacement of over 100,000 people in the surrounding villages in the vicinity of Chernobyl with attendant economic, sociological and psychological trauma

18. In 1986 Irish people reacted generously with their money and time. A number of Irish organisations were set up specifically to help the people of Chernobyl to deal with the tragic aftermath of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl • Since then large amounts of money have been raised in Ireland for Chernobyl and Irish families have hosted a considerable number of children affected by the Chernobyl disaster in their homes

19. Projects and programmes funded by Irish Aid to address the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster include:

20. Chernobyl • Burren Chernobyl Project: Support for a day care centre for mentally and physically disabled children • The Chernobyl Humanitarian & Rehabilitation Assistance Programme (CHARP), in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross • The development of Day Care centres in partnership with the Chernobyl Children’s Project International

21. Future of Ireland’s Engagement in the Region • Irish Aid involvement in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has primarily been in response to the fundamental changes brought about by the transition to democracy in Eastern Europe and the resulting shocks which gave rise to significant increases in poverty • The major humanitarian consequences of conflicts within the Balkans, the South Caucasus and Central Asia resulted in increased flows of refugees and economic migrants, people trafficking and the spread of HIV/AIDS

22. Future of Ireland’s Engagement in the Region • In the early years of transition, the focus was on rehabilitation, and as political and economic integration with the EU has progressed, the context for Irish Aid's engagement in the region has changed. Some states have now joined the EU, with others becoming candidates for membership • Irish Aid will continue to provide funding in appropriate cases in the Eastern European and Central Asian region where our overarching objective of poverty reduction, with a particular focus on support for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, is met

23. Thank you John Gilroy Deputy Director Programme Countries Irish Aid Department of Foreign Affairs *john.gilroy@dfa.ie Ireland’s role in the region