National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service (NACS) jointly with the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with the expert support of Canadian technical assistance project PROTECT and NATO Programme for Professional Development of Civilian Personnel in Security and Defence Sector of Ukraine with aim to professionalize Ukraine’s system of the Euro-Atlantic integration developed following:

• general professional (certificate) advanced training program “Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine”, which aims to raise awareness of civil servants and local self-government officials on the preconditions and components of the mechanism of formation and functioning of NATO, Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, main tasks, formats, opportunities and cooperation mechanisms, the necessary reforms to achieve interoperability and NATO membership, in particular, the formation of civil servants’ understanding of: the state policy of Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine; communication of the state policy of Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine; the history of NATO’s creation and leadership in the modern architecture of international security; the benefits of Ukraine’s membership in NATO; the essence of transformation processes in the context of Ukraine’s preparation for NATO membership; implementation in Ukraine of best practices of strategic planning based on the principles of results-based management (RBM), in the development, monitoring and evaluation of the results of the implementation of the ANP.
• general short-term training program “Development, monitoring and evaluation of annual national programs under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission”, which aims to develop professional competencies and improve professional knowledge, skills and abilities of specialists of central executive bodies and other government agencies involved in development, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the ANP, in particular, formation of civil servants’ understanding of implementation in Ukraine of best practices of strategic planning based on the principles of results-based management (RBM) in the development, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the ANP; interdepartmental and interdepartmental coordination of the preparation and implementation of the ANP; methods for determining, applying and evaluating performance indicators (KPIs); tasks, principles, approaches and practices of ANP communication.
• special short-term training program “Training of Trainers on Developing, Monitoring and Evaluating the Performance of the ANP”, which aims to increase participants’ ability to use interactive methods of teaching adults to develop annual national programs under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission monitoring and evaluating the implementation of such programs.

In this regard, it is worth noting that during October – November 2021 the NACS together with the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and with the support of Canadian technical assistance project PROTECT organized and conducted trainings on “Development, monitoring and evaluation of annual national programs under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission”, which were attended by 49 civil servants and 18 representatives of higher education institutions.

 In 2018, the NACS conducted the analysis of the needs of central executive authorities and other government authorities in improving the internal staffing system of their activities in the framework of the implementation of the state policy of Euro-Atlantic integration.

In addition, in 2019 the NACS provided an analysis of the needs of central executive authorities and other government authorities in strengthening the capacity of structural units dealing with NATO issues.

During 2020, in accordance with the resolution of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, the NACS jointly with the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine provided the main part of the functional survey in 46 government authorities and institutions responsible for cooperation with NATO:

• the first part - May 12, 2020 - August 06, 2020
• the second part - October 19, 2020 - November 05, 2020 

The Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union has developed Methodological Recommendations for conducting a functional survey of central executive authorities, other state authorities and economic structures responsible for cooperation with NATO, approved by order of the NACS No. 73-20 as of May 08, 2020.

In addition, the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union provides organizational advisory and methodological assistance and clarifications to government authorities on the realization of the mentioned resolution and the specifics of use of methodological recommendations.

The purpose of the functional survey was to collect, analyze and systematize information on professional support of cooperation between central executive authorities, other government authorities and economic structures with NATO, in particular, within annual national programs under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission, NATO Trust Funds and others practical programs and projects.

The tasks of the functional survey were:

1) analysis of tasks and functions of government authorities and economic structures responsible for cooperation with NATO, their structural units in order to systematize, clarify, rationally allocate, supplement new (missing) functions in the field of Euro-Atlantic integration (if necessary) necessary for their full implementation powers;

2) identify:

• the need for specialists in Euro-Atlantic integration;
  
• the need to create separate structural units for Euro-Atlantic integration;
• professional training needs of staff whose functional responsibilities include developing, monitoring and evaluating the results of the ANP, Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration and cooperation with NATO, indicating the areas, forms and types of such training;
• the ratio of the number of experts on European integration to the number of specialists on Euro-Atlantic integration.

In accordance with the above-mentioned resolution, the Center has developed Methodical recommendations for conducting a functional survey in 2020 of central executive authorities, other government agencies and economic entities responsible for cooperation with NATO, and provided clarifications on the specifics of its application.

The analytical reports were prepared based on both parts of the functional survey and submitted for the consideration to the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

In addition, the results of conducting both parts of the functional survey were presented by Head of the NACS Natalia Aliushyna during the meetings of the Commission for Coordination of Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, which took place on November 02, 2020 and December 15, 2020, respectively.

On the basis of the results of the functional survey and in order to strengthen the institutional capacity of government authorities involved in cooperation with NATO, as well as the professionalization of Euro-Atlantic integration system, the NACS jointly with the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine developed the following regulations and training programs:

• Methodical recommendations on annual identifying of the needs of ministries, other central executive authorities, government authorities whose jurisdiction extends to the entire territory of Ukraine, for specialists on the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and their professional training (order of the NACS as of May 20, 2020 No. 84-21);
  
• Typical provision on a responsible separate structural unit for Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine (approved by the decision of the meeting of the Commission for Coordination of Euro-Atlantic Integration as of March 26, 2021);
• general professional (certificate) advanced training program “Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine” (adopted by the order of the NACS as of August 31, 2021 No. 141-21);
• general short-term program “Development, monitoring and evaluation of the results of the implementation of annual national programs under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission” (adopted by the order of the NACS as of May 24, 2021 No. 87-21);
• special short-term training program “Training for trainers on the development, monitoring and evaluation of the results of the implementation of the ANP” (adopted by the order of the NACS as of October 23, 2021 No. 172-21).

Ukraine’s current foreign policy is aimed at ensuring its national interests and security by maintaining peaceful and mutually beneficial cooperation with members of the international community in accordance with generally accepted principles and norms of international law.

For Ukraine the strategic partnership with NATO is an integral part of the European integration course, as it is part of the process of domestic transformation in the context of the implementation of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part.

Ukraine’s active political dialogue with the North Atlantic Alliance is ensured through bilateral contacts at all levels, including the inter-parliamentary dimension. The NATO – Ukraine Commission, established in 1997 to implement the provisions of the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, plays a leading role in deepening this dialogue. Since 2009, in accordance with the Declaration on Amendments to the Charter, annual national programs of NATO – Ukraine cooperation have been developed under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission.

On February 7, 2019 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine” (on the strategic course of the state to gain full membership of Ukraine in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

The purpose of the proposed amendments is to enshrine in the Constitution of Ukraine the civilizational choice, the European identity of the Ukrainian people and the irreversibility of the country’s strategic course towards full membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In addition, effective governance by the state and, above all, the establishment of effective mechanisms to achieve compliance with the criteria, norms and principles of the European Union and NATO play an important role in the formation and implementation of public policy in the field of Euro-Atlantic integration. At the national level, the institutional mechanism includes an extensive network of state bodies and institutions implementing state policy in the field of Euro-Atlantic integration, in particular through the implementation of annual national programs under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission.

The Annual National Program under the auspices of the NATO – Ukraine Commission (hereinafter – ANP) is a system document, which contains a description of reforms in relevant areas, defines their strategic aim, goals, priorities, necessary to ensure effective and systematic implementation of the strategic course of the Constitution of Ukraine for full membership of Ukraine in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Particular attention in the ANP for 2021 is paid to the issues of deepening cooperation with NATO in the framework of Ukraine’s status of an enhanced partner in 2020.

The Commission for the Coordination of Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, chaired by the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, plays a leading role in coordinating activities related to the preparation, implementation and monitoring of ANP activities. The Institute of National Coordinators of Ukraine’s Cooperation with NATO in Relevant Areas, the system of thematic interagency working groups, and a number of ad hoc working groups under the auspices of the Commission for Coordination of Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine play a significant supporting role.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine coordinates the activities of central executive authorities, other government authorities for the development and implementation of measures aimed at the realization of the ANP, as well as the decisions of the NATO – Ukraine Commission.

Ukraine informs NATO about the results of the ANP implementation on the regular basis.

The ANP is based on the international methodology for the development of strategic documents “Results-Based Management”, adopted in NATO member states and in many international organizations. This will allow for effective control over the achievement of the goals of domestic reforms, fixing of priority tasks for the year, as well as preparation and implementation of appropriate measures. Due to the introduction of performance and efficiency indicators, an effective system of monitoring the implementation of the Program is being created.

The implementation of the ANP does not require additional expenditures from the State Budget of Ukraine and is carried out at the expense and within the budget allocations provided by central executive authorities, other state authorities, as well as financial assistance from NATO and individual Allies.

National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service (hereinafter – NACS) within its competence annually ensures the development and implementation of tasks and measures within the action plan of the ANP in the context of the implementation of public policy in the field of civil service.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – is an international organization founded on April 4, 1949 in response to collective defense of Western Europe countries and North America according to the principles of Article 51 of the UN Charter.