On October 23, 2020 the kick-off event of the Twinning project for the Twinning project “Strengthening the capacity of the Ukrainian National Standardization Body” for State Enterprise “Ukrainian Scientific, Research and Training Centre on Standardization, Certification and Quality” (SE “UkrNDNC”) under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine was held in the online format.
The project will be implemented by consortium of partner countries that includes Germany, Austria, Romania and Spain.
The project is aimed at improving Ukraine’s business climate, competitiveness, innovation and integration into the European Union’s internal market by improving its national quality infrastructure.
The main objectives of the project are to establish a standardization system compatible with the EU standardization system, thus supporting the implementation of provisions in the field of technical barriers to trade of the Association Agreement / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (hereinafter - AA / DCFTA), as well as assistance to Ukraine, also in trade and economic goals in accordance with the established AA / DCFTA.
Mykola KRYZHANOVSKY, Director of the Department of Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine, Partner of the Permanent Adviser, addressed the participants of the meeting with an introductory speech, in his welcoming speech thanked the partners and experts for fruitful cooperation and involvement within the project in conditions of remote work.
Dr. Thomas Facklam, Senior Advisor for international affairs, MS Project leader, Simone RAUDINO, the representative of the European Delegation to Ukraine, Mykola KRYZHANOVSKY, Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine, Dr. Bertram v. MOLTKE, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gernot PFANDLER, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Alina COTU, Representative of the Romanian embassy and Patricia SERRANO SÁNCHEZ, Councellor of the Spanish embassy, made welcoming speeches.
In addition, the Sector Manager of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Simone RAUDINO and the representative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany Dr.Heinz HETMEIER shared the importance of the project and its results for the approximation of Ukraine and EU systems.
For other part, Anna LISINA, Director of UkrNDNC, project leader from the beneficiary country, stressed the importance of project implementation and its benefits for Ukraine and the national standardization body, and the leaders of all six components of the project presented their results.The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine, experts of the Project for SE "UkrNDNC" beneficiary countries and member states of the European Union, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.
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 Unit of Twinning Programme Administration Office in Ukraine Activities Ensuring Anastasiia PIDHORNA took part in the meeting
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.
The Twinning project "Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Ukrainian National Standardization Body" covers the following six components:
- Component 1 – harmonization of legislation with the developed EU legislation
- Component 2– organizational and functional structure
- Component 3 – mechanisms and methods of work of technical committees
- Component 4 – rationalization of standardization processes
- Component 5 – installation of an automatic translation system of standards
- Component 6 – developing an outreach strategy
Information on the conclusion of the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) with the European Union.
The implementation of the ACAA Agreement will allow domestic exporters to mark their products with the European Mark of Conformity (CE) and sell them freely on the European Union market without additional certification. In addition to saving exporters time and money on certification, this agreement is expected to improve the image of products made in Ukraine, as well as facilitate Ukraine's access to other global markets.In the case of its conclusion, "industrial visa-free travel" can be introduced in three sectors: low-voltage equipment, electromagnetic compatibility, machinery and equipment, the appropriate infrastructure for which has been prepared by the Ukrainian authorities. Joining other sectors after that will be much easier and faster, which will open the possibility for the gradual export of products under all 27 technical regulations: (II priority - radio equipment; pressure equipment; gaseous fuel appliances; personal protective equipment, measuring equipment; ІІІ priority – toys, hot water boilers, medical products, construction products; ІV priority – other products not covered with І-ІІІ priority).
The ACAA could potentially cover one-fifth of Ukraine's exports to the European Union, primarily engineering products.
