The EU enlargement process requires candidate countries to adhere to a common set of standards regarding fundamental principles of administrative conduct, such as the protection of human rights, the rule of law, and legal certainty. These principles, collectively known as good administration, are essential for the EU accession process and form the cornerstone for preventing corruption and fostering an environment conducive to investment and business.

 

Until recently, Ukraine lacked a comprehensive administrative procedure, relying instead on over 400 laws and thousands of pieces of secondary legislation that offered various approaches to defining administrative procedures. Just before the onset of the war, the Parliament passed the Law on Administrative Procedure (LAP), a legislative effort assisted by the EU4PAR project. It was signed by President Zelensky in June 2022 and scheduled to take effect in December 2023. The task at hand to implement this law was enormous and multifaceted, considering the high number of laws and other legislative acts that needed alignment with the LAP and practical implementation.

 

In response to this challenge, EU4PAR assembled a group of Ukrainian and international administrative law experts from civil society and academia to assist the governmental Working Group in identifying and preparing amendments to sectorial legislation. Through this collaborative effort, the team reviewed over 400 laws containing administrative procedures, identifying almost 200 laws requiring amendments. A draft omnibus law with the necessary amendments was prepared, approved by the Government, and forwarded for parliamentary consideration and approval. Additionally, the EU4PAR team assisted the government in drafting a new Administrative Violations Code and a new Law on Citizen Appeals (read petitions), as the relevant two laws became outdated due to the LAP taking effect.

Effective communication is vital for the success of any reform initiative as it ensures that all stakeholders are informed, engaged, and aligned with the goals and processes of the reform. Clear communication helps build trust and transparency, which are essential for gaining the support and cooperation of those affected by the changes. By providing accurate information about the reasons for the reform, the expected outcomes, and the steps involved, leaders can mitigate resistance and dispel misconceptions. Furthermore, open channels of communication allow for feedback and dialogue, enabling the identification and resolution of potential issues before they become significant obstacles. In addition to fostering understanding and support, communication plays a crucial role in the implementation phase of reforms. Ultimately, strong communication strategies contribute to the sustainability and effectiveness of reforms by ensuring that all parties are informed, engaged, and working towards a common goal.

 

EU4PAR has been supporting the Government of Ukraine in building a Public Administration Reform (PAR) community and ensuring all stakeholders of this reform are aware of and support it. Towards this end, the government established an inter-institutional communication group that leads communication strategy design and coordinates implementation. EU4PAR provides support to every aspect of this group’s operation, including practical support for implementing various communication initiatives, such as maintaining a regular presence of the reform in various media.

 

The approach has provided both great outreach and impact. Communication activities included TV broadcasts, articles, blogs, public events, and a dedicated media platform, with a dedicated website and over 22,000 followers on Facebook. As a result, in the last six months of 2023, the PAR reform was mentioned and advocated for 670 times in various media, reaching over 120 million people.