On September 27, 2017 the Official Closure of the Twinning Project “Assistance with implementation of SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) commitments under the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement” that was implemented during 21 months together with the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of Lithuania and Abruzzo and Molise Region Experimental Animal Health Care Institute “G. Caporale” (Italy) was held.
Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, BC Project Leader Volodymyr Lapa in his opening speech thanked all the participants for the fruitful cooperation on the way of adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the norms of the European Union. Head of Sector “Agriculture” of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Christian Ben Hell, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine Marius Janukonis, First Secretary, Head of Economic and Trade Office of the Italian Embassy Alice Amoriello, Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of Lithuania Darius Remeika and Scientific Director of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (Italy) Nicola D’Alterio also presented their welcoming speeches as well as underlined the importance of this Twinning Project in the context of Ukraine's relations with the European Union and emphasized that the Project helps to build bridges and creates opportunities for various institutions to continue the already established cooperation.
RTA Petras Machyulskis presented the main results of the Project in two components: “Alignment of Ukrainian legislation with the EU” and “Upgrading competences and capacities of civil servants”. In particular, the approximation of SPS requirements with the EU requirements was noted, which will allow agricultural producers to enter the European market.
MS Project leader, Deputy Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of Lithuania Vidmantas Paulauskas and RTA counterpart, Chief of Directorate for International Cooperation of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection Olga Shevchenko expressed their willingness and readiness to continue the implementation of the already achieved results.
On behalf of the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union the Head of the TAIEX Coordination Division of the Projects Management Unit Olena Rachynska attended the event.
For reference:
according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ukraine “On Approval of the Procedure for Initiation, Preparation and Implementation of the Twinning Projects” as of 11 October, 2016 No 700 the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service coordinates the implementation of the institution building instrument of the European Union Twinning in Ukraine. Furthermore, in accordance with relevant legal acts the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service is the coordinator of institution building instrument TAIEX implementation in Ukraine. In order to provide effective coordination of Twinning and TAIEX the Twinning Program Administration Office in Ukraine was established, its functions are performed by the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union.
