On December 07-08, 2017 at the premises of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service (NAUCS) the Annual Regional Conference on Institution Building (hereinafter – the Conference) took place. The event was organized under support of the Panel on Public Administration Reform of the Thematic platform 1 “Democracy, Good Governance and Stability” within the framework of the EU initiative “Eastern Partnership” in joint cooperation with the NAUCS and Twinning Programme Administration Office in Ukraine.
The goal of the Conference was to provide experience exchange on effective implementation of institution building instruments Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA Programme, to discuss innovative approaches and legal background of Twinning projects realization as well as to share best practices on implementation of strategic reforms in the area of public administration through involvement of international technical assistance in the countries of the EU initiative “Eastern Partnership” and the EU Member States.
The Head of the NAUCS Kostiantyn VASHCHENKO, the Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Berend DE GROOT, Chair of the Board of Directors of the State Examination Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan Maleyka ABBASZADE and the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, representative of the Secretary General in charge of the coordination of the cooperation programmes in Ukraine Мårten EHNBERG presented their welcome speeches.
Kostiantyn Vashchenko in his opening speech greeted the participants on the occasion of the opening of the Conference and emphasized the necessity and importance of further close cooperation within the framework of the EU initiative “Eastern Partnership” in order to ensure the sustainable development of our countries in the context of modern world processes.
Indeed, the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit of November 24, 2017 and the Goals of Global Policy established by the Agenda for Sustainable Development for the period till 2030, stated that establishment of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, acceleration of political association and economic integration with the EU in accordance with the Association Agreement, the implementation of the public administration reform in accordance with the international principles aimed at formation of professional, depoliticized, accountable and ethical civil service are crucial for increasing people's trust to their governments. These reforms are the basis of all other policies and are necessary for strengthening sustainability and human security and reducing social vulnerability.
During the first day of the Conference, within the framework of panel discussions, the participants discussed key aspects of international cooperation, in particular the experience of attracting and using the instruments of institutional development of Twinning, TAIEX and the SIGMA programme, and also considered the urgent issues of public administration reform in the EU Member States and the countries of the EU initiative “Eastern Partnership”. In particular, representatives of the Unit C3 on Institution Building, TAIEX, Twinning, of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission familiarized the audience on the main results of twenty years of experience in implementing the Twinning instrument and key innovations in the Twinning reform.
Senior Advisor on Public Service and Human Resource Management of the SIGMA Programme Wojciech ZIELIŃSKI together with the Team Leader of the Centre of Thematic Expertise on Public Administration Reform of Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Ritva HEIKKINEN presented the Principles of public administration of the OECD \ SIGMA Programme which is a basis of complex public administration reform and mechanisms of its implementation in Twinning projects.
During the work in sections, Team Leader on Institution Building, TAIEX, Twinning, Claus LECH and Project Officer of Unit C3, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Sanja MILINOVIĆ provided the participants with new process of Twinning implementation, main recommendations on preparation of Twinning contracts as well as challenges arising from the organization of the information campaign. Furthermore, Project Officer of Unit C3 – Institution Building, TAIEX, Twinning of Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Mihai KELLER presented the practical aspects of involvement and implementation of external assistance of the European Commission within the framework of TAIEX.
The second day of the Conference was focused on discussion the experience of countries of the EU initiative “Eastern Partnership” and the EU Member States in involvement of international technical assistance in the context of effective implementation of public administration and civil service reform.
The cooperation experience was presented by Project Leader of Hanns Seidel Foundation in Ukraine Daniel SEIBERLING, representative the Swiss-Ukrainian Project “Development of Citizenship Competences in Ukraine – DOCCU” Valentyna POLTORAK, Capacity Development Advisors of “U-LEAD with Europe” Programme Iain MACKIE and Yaroslava TULKU.
Moreover, Expert on Public Administration Issues of the Norwegian Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector (CIDS) Viktor SOLOVIOV presented the main activities of CIDS and cooperation experience with National Agency on Civil Service.
Project Manager on HR Benchmarking Policies of European and International Expertise Unit of Directorate-General for Public Administration and Civil Service of the Ministry for Public Action and Accounts of the French Republic Mathilde DOMENACH SENECAT and Project Manager of the International Relations Department of National School of Administration of the French Republic (ENA) Dimitar MINTSEV presented experience of France in supporting of public administration and civil service reforms.
In addition, during the second day of the Conference, the winners of the All-Ukrainian Competition “Best Civil Servant” were awarded.
The conference was attended by representatives of the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, the embassies of the EU member states in Ukraine, representatives of public authorities and coordinators of the implementation of Twinning and TAIEX instruments in the Eastern Partnership Eastern Partnership countries, permanent advisers and executives of existing Twinning projects in Ukraine, representatives of institutes of civil society, international organizations and projects
For the reference: Annual Regional Conferences on Institution Building were initiated in 2007 by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service / Twinning Programme Administration Office in Ukraine and have become a traditional form for professional discussion of key aspects of institutional reforms in the countries participating in the Eastern Partnership Initiative. The conference brings together experts and civil servants from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Presentation of the TAIEX tool
Conference participants
Program
Presentations
Resolution
