The first basic document defining the foundations for cooperation between Ukraine and the EU was the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, and Ukraine of June 16, 1994. The document outlined the basics of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. Defining the objectives of such cooperation, it was said, firstly, about strengthening and expanding the relations between the parties of the Agreement, and secondly, about establishing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the parties.

Obtaining the status of a full member of the EU as a strategic goal of Ukraine was first declared by the President of Ukraine in 2005. On January 13, 2005, the European Parliament almost unanimously adopted a resolution on the intentions of the European Parliament to approach the position with Ukraine on membership.

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 (Association Agreement), ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on September 16, 2014, replaced the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, and Ukraine of June 16, 1994, defining updated priorities.

On September 16, 2014, the European Parliament ratified the Association Agreement simultaneously with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The aim of the Association Agreement was to create a zone of deep and comprehensive free trade between Ukraine and the EU, strengthening cooperation in the political and economic spheres, access of Ukrainian business entities to the EU internal market, as well as adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the EU Law. The Association Agreement was an important step on the way to the next stage – the conclusion of the Treaty of Accession to the EU.

On February 21, 2019, confirming the European identity of the Ukrainian people and the irreversibility of Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic course, the norms on strategic course of Ukraine for membership in the EU and NATO were established in the preamble to the Fundamental Law, three articles and transitional provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine.

The establishment of institutional mechanisms for the implementation of the state policy of European integration of Ukraine has taken place since the beginning of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, but was finally formed after the ratification of the Association Agreement.

Ukraine aims at full integration and accession to the EU, and today Ukraine has an institutional coordination mechanism for the formation and implementation of state policy in the field of European integration. In 2014, the Government Office for Coordination on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (hereinafter – the Government Office) was established within the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which provides organizational, expert-analytical and information support for the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in the field of European integration. The Government Office has special powers in the field of European integration, including conducting expert examination of draft acts for their compliance with Ukraine’s obligations in the field of European integration and EU Law (acquis), coordinating the consistency of state policy with European integration obligations, and being responsible for planning European integration activities, analyzes the attraction and use of international assistance aimed at supporting European integration, etc.

At the same time, in 2014, as part of the public administration reform, the Institute of Deputy Ministers for European Integration was introduced, which, within its competence, directs the Ministry’s activities in the field of European integration of Ukraine. Deputy Ministers are members of the Government Committee for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

At the same time, Directorates for Strategic Planning and Europeanintegration have been established in the structure of the ministries, whose powers include issues on the implementation of tasks related to the strategic planning of the ministry’s activities and coordination within the competence of activities on European integration, cooperation with international organizations and international financial institutions. Today, the European integration departments of the ministries coordinate the internal coordination of the positions of the sectoral departments before submitting draft decisions for interdepartmental agreement, monitor the implementation of the Agreement at the level of the ministry, inform the Deputy Ministers for European integration about potential problems and propose ways of their solution.

The independent structural departments for European integration have not been created in all central executive authorities. In some central executive authorities functions are performed simultaneously by several structural departments, in others, special structural departments are not provided, and the corresponding functions are assigned as additional to other structural departments (including structural departments on international cooperation).

In addition,a new institute, the position of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, which politically directs the European integration activities of ministers and helps to overcome differences between them, was introduced in 2016. In particular, the competence of theDeputy Prime Minister includes issues of coordinating the activities of central executive authorities and other state authorities in the field of European integration and representing Ukraine’s position in relations with the EU.

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine heads the Government Committee for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, International Cooperation and Regional Development, which preliminarily reviews draft acts that, according to the expert opinion of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers, are not in conformity with the obligations in the field European integration or EU Law (acquis).

In April 2022, Ukraine received a questionnaire from the EC to form a Conclusion on granting Ukraine the EU candidate status. The questionnaire consists of two parts (the first part of the questionnaire is an audit of the state for compliance with the political and economic criteria of EU membership, the second part provides an assessment of the compliance of national legislation with the European acquis communautaire).

Since 1993, when the Copenhagen criteria were formed, each country had to give answers to the EU as far as it meets these criteria. The Copenhagen criteria cover the political and economic spheres, as well as compliance with EU legal acts and the candidate country’s ability to implement them. Political criteria are democracy and the rule of law. Economic criteria are the market economy.

The questionnaire required detailed answers on the level of Ukraine’s approximation to the EU legislation and included plans to achieve the EU standards, if some normative legal acts have not yet been adopted. Ukraine submitted the completed first part of the questionnaire on April 18, and the second part – on May 9.

On June 17, 2022, the EC officially recommended that Ukraine be granted the status of a candidate for EU membership. The EC document specifies separately the list of requirements for Ukraine to be fulfilled. The EC will monitor Ukraine’s progress in implementing these steps and report on them together with a detailed country assessment by the end of 2022.

On June 23, 2022, Ukraine obtained the status of a candidate for EU membership. Representatives of all 27 EU Member States voted for Ukraine candidate status.

Further preparation for EU membership will involve the completion of a comprehensive transformation of all spheres and the introduction of conditions aimed at the protection of every citizen and business, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the EU and its legislation. On this path, Ukraine will be constantly supported by the EC, providing the necessary consulting, financial and other assistance, which will be directed to the transformation of society, the legal system and the economy on the way to EU membership.

In addition, the candidate status opens the possibility of receiving financial assistance. Financial assistance will be available to Ukraine for countries preparing for EU accession (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, IPA). Such assistance may be provided through grants, investments or as technical assistance. The candidate status also opens for Ukraine participation in EU programs and initiatives.

Currently, after granting the candidate status, the EC defines for Ukraine the main components and proposals for negotiations, which must also be unanimously approved by the European Council. The basis for negotiations is the 35 chapters of the questionnaire, grouped into six main clusters: fundamental principles; internal market; competitiveness; Green Agenda; resources, agriculture, and cohesion; external relations. The status of the candidate for EU membership granted by Ukraine requires large-scale work by state authorities on the rapid and effective implementation of defined reforms.

At the moment, it is very important to have the appropriate personnel potential to ensure proper work of state authorities after Ukraine has granted the candidate status for EU membership. In order to strengthen the institutional capacity and increase the personnel potential of state authorities, a number of measures should be implemented, in particular:

• conducting an analysis of the institutional capacity and personnel potential of state authorities responsible for performing tasks in the field of European integration;

• on the basis of the results of the analysis ensure the improvement of the institutional mechanism of interaction of state authorities with the aim of providing specialists with a high level of professionalism, capable of competently and responsibly performing tasks connected with the implementation of the state policy of European integration of Ukraine;

• conducting an analysis of the needs for professional training of the personnel of state authorities responsible for the implementation of tasks in the field of European integration;

• development of training programs and organization of training for deputy ministers, civil servants of state authorities, responsible for the implementation of tasks in the field of European integration on implementation of institutional changes of the legislative framework after Ukraine granted the status of candidate for EU membership;

• development of training programs and organization of training for civil servants and local self-government officials, deputies of local councils on certain issues of the state policy of the European integration of Ukraine;

• wide acquaintance of civil servants and local self-government officials with the priorities of the activities of state authorities regarding Ukraine’s granting the status of a candidate for EU membership, including conducting information campaigns, communication events, etc.

Implementation of the above-mentioned measures can be carried out both through the state budget and within the framework of the implementation of international technical assistance projects. 

Research
"EXPERIENCE OF CANDIDATE COUNTRIES FOR THE EU MEMBERSHIP AND UKRAINE REGARDING THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE POLICY OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION"

У дослідженні представлено досвід країн-кандидатів на членство в ЄС та України щодо інституційної спроможності та реалізації державної політики європейської інтеграції

ПЕРЕГЛЯНУТИ

TAIEX and Twinning Highlights. Annual Activity Report 2020

Manual for online TAIEX Events

TAIEX Flash Report 2022

If you have any questions, please contact the Programme Administration Office in Ukraine at: +38 (044) 256 00 89

Project proposal Form

Application Form TAIEX Expert Mission

Application Form TAIEX Study Visit

Application Form TAIEX Workshop

TAIEX is the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission, which is provided for the purpose of building institutional capacity, approximation and implementation of national legislation to the legislation of the European Union (acquis communautaire), as well as its further effective application.

SIGMA (Support for Improvement in Governance and Management) - one of the most prestigious analytical centers of the European Union, which was established in 1992 by a joint initiative of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union.

SIGMA helps countries plan and implement their priority reforms through bilateral technical assistance projects, regional activities and horizontal initiatives to support the European Commission in further developing its focus on public administration reform, including public financial management.

The purpose of SIGMA is:

• strengthening the foundations of public administration;
• promoting socio-economic development by strengthening the institutional capacity of the public sector;
• strengthening horizontal governance;
• improvement of elaboration process and implementation of the public administration reform.

Technical assistance of SIGMA Programme provided in the framework of six areas:

SIGMA assistance in the field of public administration reform provided by:

• analysis of administrative structures;
• elaboration and implementation of administrative system reforms;
• analysis of proposed draft legislations and programs;
• organization of training and information exchange;
• preparation of technical assistance plans.

Building on all its experience and working with senior advisers working in relevant national authorities, the SIGMA Programme has worked closely with the European Commission to develop the Principles of Public Administration, and also to give countries a tangible basis for what good governance should look like and what it should strive for in order to better serve its citizens and businesses.

Moreover, for SIGMA partners they has prepared Toolkit for preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of public administration reform and sector strategies.

Legislation base:

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ukraine and the OECD on deepening cooperation, signed on October 7, 2014

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On the procedure for participation of central executive bodies in the activities of international organizations of which Ukraine is a member" of September 13, 2002 № 1371

SIGMA Work Programme for December 2022 – March 2024, elaborated jointly with the interested state authorities of Ukraine.

According to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of September 13, 2002 № 1371 "On the procedure for participation of central executive bodies in the activities of international organizations of which Ukraine is a member" NAUCS is the central executive body responsible for membership of Ukraine in the OECD Committee on Public Administration (hereinafter - the Committee). Since 2008, the NAUCS has been participating in the Committee as a permanent observer. The purpose of the Committee activities is to assist countries in building and strengthening the capacity to elaborate and implement unbiased, citizen-centered public policies, strengthen the capacity of public institutions, and assess current and new strategic challenges to government in the context of the global economy. Participation in its work provides both OECD and non-OECD countries with many opportunities, including:

• contributes to identify and address today's strategic problems, which arise in front of governments, in particular increasing the trust to the government authorities and taking an effective approach to responding to the challenges facing governments;
• contributes to conduct the balanced and efficient public policy, increase transparency, quality and effectiveness in functioning of government authorities and service provision;
• disseminates the best elements of good governance and contributes to improving the efficiency, transparency, responsibility and accountability of government agencies.

The main results of cooperation with SIGMA

In 2006, an evaluation of six areas of public administration in Ukraine based on the basic indicators of the SIGMA Programme was initiated. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted Order № 196-r “On Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ukraine, the UK Ministry of International Development, the Swedish International Development Agency and the European Commission Delegation to Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus on the evaluation of public administration in Ukraine according to the basic indicators of the OECD / SIGMA program"  and № 186-r “On the Establishment of the Coordinating Council for the Organization of Public Administration Assessment on SIGMA Basic Indicators”.

The report of the SIGMA Programme on the evaluation of the governance system in Ukraine was published at the international conference "Administrative Reform Strategy: Recommendations of the SIGMA Programme to the Government of Ukraine", which took place on July 5, 2006.

In addition, NAUCS cooperated with the SIGMA Programme on the Law of Ukraine “On Civil Service” of December 10, 2016 № 889-VIII, the draft Law of Ukraine “On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies”, the Public Administration Reform Strategy for 2016–2020, approved by the decree Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of June 24, 2016 № 474-r "Some issues of public administration reform in Ukraine".

From January 31 to February 2, 2017, the NAUCS were provided consultations with the EU Advisory Group as part of the fifth working visit of the EU Advisory Group to Ukraine in the area of reforming the Civil Service and Human Resources Management. The issues of public administration reform and implementation of the Strategy were discussed during the meetings. Therewith, the experts of the EU Advisory Group were presented the results of work in the field of civil service reform, implementation of the Concept of introduction of reform specialists and competitive selection for civil service positions (based on recent practical experience and evaluation by the EU Advisory Group and SIGMA). During the event also presented a report on the analysis of the number of civil servants in the EU and Ukraine, as well as recommendations of the EU Advisory Group on monitoring the number of civil servants in Ukraine, which will increase transparency in the civil service.

In the second half of 2017, the NAUCS together with the SIGMA Programme also implemented a number of measures in preparation for a comprehensive assessment of the state of affairs in the public administration system of Ukraine, as provided by the Strategy. In particular, the Conference "Public administration reform in Ukraine: assessment of the state of affairs, achievements and challenges" was held, in order to discuss the progress in public administration reform in Ukraine, and also the main tasks and challenges, which arise behind the Ukrainian side in this process. The Conference became the formal beginning of implementation full and in-depth assessment of state of affairs in public administration system with the participation of the SIGMA Programme.

In the framework of panel discussion, the participants of conference have discussed the achievements and challenges in implementation of public administration reform in Ukraine. Moreover, the Principles of Public Administration of SIGMA were presented, the main approaches and technical aspects of the future assessment of public administration in Ukraine were outlined.

In 2018, the SIGMA program presented the results of the assessment of the state of affairs in the public administration system of Ukraine. The results of this assessment were aimed at assisting the Government of Ukraine in planning and implementing further reforms in key directions of public administration reform and in revising the appropriate Strategy. More details can be found at: Baseline Measurement Report: The Principles of Public Administration. Ukraine (2018)

During 2019 were provided coordination of drafts SIGMA terms of reference with stakeholders, namely: “Support of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine to ensure reporting and updating the Strategy for reforming the public finance management system for 2017-2020”, “Support for Civil Service Reform for 2018-2019”.

In addition, taking into account the results of the SIGMA program's comprehensive assessment of the state of affairs in the public administration system in 2018, the overall coordination of which was provided by the NAUCS together with the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the standards of the European Union, the Government approved a new version of the Public Administration Reform Strategy until 2021. In addition, relevant changes were made to the Concept of optimizing the system of central executive bodies, approved by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of December 27, 2017 № 1013-r.

The implementation of the Public Administration Reform Strategy until 2021 should result in a more efficient and accountable public administration system that works in the public interest, ensures sustainable development of the country and provides quality public services.

For the time being, the implementation of the SIGMA Work Programme for December 2022 – March 2024, which was elaborated jointly with interested government authorities of Ukraine, is being provided. The Plan, in the sphere of public service reform and human resource management, provides the priority of cooperation with Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service concerning to support the implementation civil service reform, in particular remuneration system according to the Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept of reforming the system of civil servants remuneration; the institutional structure of the central government; as well as support for the Law on Service in Local Self-Government.

European integration is the main and invariable foreign policy priority of Ukraine, and further development and deepening of relations between Ukraine and the EU is carried out on the principles of political association and economic integration.