On January 28, 2015 at the premises of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine the steering committee meeting for the Twinning Project “Institutional Support to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine on Increasing the Operation Performance and the Competitiveness of Rail Transport in Ukraine” was held. The Project is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Spain and the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Marine Economy of Poland.
The goal of the project is to support the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine on effective state management of the rail transport activities in Ukraine and to promote the development of the competitive environment for the private persons and legal entities, operating in the market of railway transport.
The Project Leader from the Kingdom of Spain Matilde Fernandez Balbin and the Deputy Junior Project Leader Ireneusz Majcher greeted all the participants of the meeting. BC Deputy Project Leader from the State Administration of Railway Transport of Ukraine Ivan Isopenko expressed gratitude for the opportunities to use international experience in improving rail transport.
Participants discussed recommendations of European experts, including the amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Railway Transport" and the issues regarding the adaptation of the tariff policy to the European standards.
It was noted that during the last quarter of project implementation some important changes in the transport sector policy, including the action plan that was adopted for the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU took place. This plan foresees development, adoption and implementation of legal acts aimed at implementation of a number of provisions of EU Directives on railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the usage of railway infrastructure and safety certification.
The RTA Jose Samino Navo provided the summary of completed activities and fulfillment of mandatory results and benchmarks. Moreover the activities for the next quarter and the date of the next meeting of the Project Steering Committee were considered. Sector Manager on Transport of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Svetlana Didkivska, the BC Deputy Project Leader from the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine Mykola Snitko and other representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine took part in the discussion.
The Head of the Twinning Coordination Division of the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union Yan Yakushchenko and the chief specialist of the Twinning Coordination Division Khrystyna Lazor attended the event.
For reference: since 2005 according to the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated on 06.10.2005 № 1424/2005 «The Issue on Provision of the Twinning Programme Implementation in Ukraine» the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service directs and coordinates the activity on preparation and implementation the Twinning Programme in Ukraine. Moreover the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service is the national coordinator of implementation of the institutional building instrument.
