During the annual Institution Building Days 2026 held in Brussels, Ukraine was honoured with a prestigious international award – “TAIEX Champion for Effective Use of TAIEX under Challenging Conditions.”
This award recognises Ukraine’s effective use of the TAIEX instrument even under unprecedented challenges. It highlights the country’s sustained institutional capacity, commitment to reforms, and active cooperation with European partners on its path toward EU integration.
A particularly symbolic moment was the award ceremony itself: European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos not only presented the award to Ukraine but also expressed sincere admiration for the resilience of Ukrainian institutions. She noted that even in wartime conditions, Ukraine continues to work systematically, implement reforms, and effectively use the opportunities provided by TAIEX. She further emphasised that EU Member States can also draw inspiration from Ukraine’s experience in resilience and public administration efficiency, and in some aspects even learn from it.
The high recognition of Ukraine is based on tangible results. In the period 2022-2026, Ukraine initiated and implemented 173 TAIEX events, involving 6,518 representatives of public authorities. These activities included expert missions, workshops, study visits, and consultations across key public policy areas, contributing to the practical implementation of European standards in Ukrainian institutions.
A key role in achieving these results is played by the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union and the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, which ensure strategic coordination, organisational support, and effective interaction between Ukrainian beneficiaries and EU experts. Thanks to their efforts, institutional support instruments are transformed into real governance improvements.
This recognition once again confirms that, even under difficult conditions, Ukraine continues to move steadily along the path of European integration, demonstrating effectiveness, resilience, and commitment to shared values.
