OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine

1. Basic decisions

Establishment:

• Permanent Council Decision No. 295, 1 June 1999, PC Journal No.231 (PC.DEC/295).

2. Tasks

According to PC Decision No.295 of 1 June 1999 and following the closure of the OSCE Mission to Ukraine (cf. Section V.), an OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine was established for the purpose of carrying out tasks related to the new form of co-operation between Ukraine and the OSCE. According to PC Decision No.295, this co-operation will be based on the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects between relevant authorities of Ukraine and the OSCE and its institutions. Such projects may cover all aspects of OSCE activities and may involve governmental as well as non-governmental bodies of Ukraine.

3. Deployment

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Ukrainian Government and the OSCE on 13 July 1999.

4. Duration

The Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine was established from 1 June 1999 for an initial duration until 31 December 1999 with the possibility of prolongations for periods of six months. Prolongations were decided at:

• 261st PC Meeting, PC.DEC/330, 9 December 1999: until 30 June 2000;
• 287th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/356, 15 June 2000: until 31 December 2000;
• 314th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/394, 14 December 2000: until 30 June 2001;
• 342nd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/417, 21 June 2001: until 31 December 2001;
• 375th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/460, 21 December 2001: until 30 June 2002;
• 400th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/484, 28 June 2002: until 31 December 2002;
• 428th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/525, 20 December 2002: until 30 June 2003;
• 457th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/549, 20 June 2003: until 31 December 2003;
• 488th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/581, 18 December 2003: until 30 June 2004;
• 512th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/615, 29 June 2004 until 31 December 2004;
• 538th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/653, 16 December 2004: until 30 June 2005;
• 559th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/680 of 16 June 2005: until 31 December 2005;
• 580th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/699 of 17 November 2005: until 30 June 2006;
• 614th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/729 of 22 June 2006: until 31 December 2006.

5. Composition

In accordance with the MoU, the Co-ordinator's staff is composed of a core of internationally and locally hired staff as well as internationally or locally hired experts and technical staff required for the implementation of the projects. The size of the Co-ordinator's expert staff may be changed as required by the projects. The total number of international staff is 3 (as of August 2006).

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (since 15 June 2005) is Ambassador James F. Schumaker of the United States.

6. Financial implications

The OSCE Unified Budget for 2006, adopted on 20 December 2005, PC.DEC/712, established the budget of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine at EUR 2,328,500.