Association4U: Support to European Integration Communication in Ukraine

One of the Association4U project tasks is to support the Government of Ukraine in the development and implementation of the Governmental Communication Strategy on European Integration. As part of this initiative, the project played a significant role in realizing the European Integration Communication Strategy for 2018-2021 through the development and execution of the national communication campaign EUKraina. This campaign aimed to enhance public understanding and support for European integration, fostering a closer relationship between Ukraine and the European Union. Visibility tools developed during campaign are still widely used in EI communication by the institutions of the Government.

Association4U supports EI communication also with other initiatives.

Key Initiatives of Association4U:

  • Updating the EU-UA Portal: This initiative involved creating a modern, user-friendly structure with expanded functionality, including mobile and tablet versions. The updated portal ensures easier access to information on European integration for the public.
  • Conducting Training Sessions: A series of communication training sessions for government officials were organized to enhance their ability to effectively communicate the benefits and progress of European integration to the public.
  • Supporting Beneficiary-Ordered Events: Association4U actively supported events requested by beneficiaries, ensuring that communication efforts were tailored to the needs of different stakeholders.
  • In addition to these efforts, Association4U played a pivotal role in developing the Governmental Communication Strategy on European Integration for the period of 2022-2026.

Association4U: European Integration communication training for Ukraine civil servants

During June 2024 Association4U project completed the series of trainings “Communication of European Integration”, which was held jointly with the Higher School of Public Administration and the National Agency of Ukraine of Civil Service.

The training was attended by 66 participants from 39 government agencies, including 15 participants from 8 ministries, 30 representatives of state agencies and services, as well as 21 participants from bureaus, inspectorates, foundations, etc.

The participants were coached by Ivetta Delikatnaya, key communication expert of the Association4U project, Cesar Herma, key expert on EU legal harmonization and translation of EU legislation of the Association4U project, Yaroslava Prokopenko, Senior Communications Manager at the Reforms Delivery Office under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Iryna Subota, Information Security and Disinformation Analyst

This year, the number of communication specialists and experts from international departments accounted for almost 73% of all participants, which is twice as many as last year. This is the result of the active work also of the National Agency and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

Training participants identified the topics that they found most useful, namely:

  • Countering Russian propaganda/disinformation
  • SWOT method for drawing conclusions
  • Information field of European integration
  • Process of developing a communication strategy
  • Legal aspects of European integration

The participants highly appreciated the course and its content, noting that the format was well structured and the information was provided in a clear and understandable way. “Excellent speakers, very professional,” was the comment we received from one of the participants.

Participants also noted that the training contained interesting practical exercises.

“This course should be mandatory for all communication experts,” said another participant.

Serbian Delegation Visits Portugal to Enhance HRM Practices to Align with EU Standards

From April 16-19, 2024, a delegation of 12 Serbian public administration representatives visited Portugal within the scope of the “Integrated Human Resources Management in Public Administration” project. This visit aimed to gain insights into advanced human resources management (HRM) practices from one of the EU member states. Their hosts were from the Directorate General for Administration and Public Employment (DGAEP) in Portugal.

The knowledge gained from this visit is expected to help Serbia develop a robust HRM monitoring and evaluation system. By understanding the key success factors and best practices in Portugal, Serbian officials aim to implement similar strategies tailored to their national context. This will include creating comprehensive data collection methods, designing effective performance appraisal systems, and establishing competency frameworks that align with European standards. Ultimately, these improvements will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Serbian public administration, resulting in better service delivery and benefits for all citizens of Serbia.

This visit presents an important step in Serbia’s EU negotiation process, showcasing the country’s commitment to aligning its public administration practices with European standards. By adopting best practices from established EU member states like Portugal, Serbia aims to ensure a smoother integration process and demonstrate its readiness for EU membership.

Public Administration Reform: North Macedonia’s Journey Towards EU Membership

After four years of dedicated effort, the EU-funded project “Support to State Reorganisation in North Macedonia” held its final event on 18 December 2023, with a Steering Committee meeting. This project has been a cornerstone in North Macedonia’s journey towards aligning its administrative and political structures with European Union standards, a crucial step in the EU negotiation process. Beneficiaries of the project expressed their gratitude for the support received and praised the professionalism of the project experts who effectively implemented various activities.

 

The project focused on conducting and completing comprehensive functional analysis of state administrative bodies on central level and providing a Synthesis Report with recommendations for state reorganization. This was followed by piloting the state reorganization in three key ministries: the Ministry of Information Society and Administration, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy. These pilot projects were particularly successful, demonstrating the potential for broader application across the government. The reforms implemented aim to enhance the efficiency of public administration, align it with EU best practices, and bolster public confidence in the government.

 

State reorganization in North Macedonia is intricately linked to its EU negotiation process, involving comprehensive reforms in judiciary independence, rule of law, public administration efficiency, and anti-corruption measures. By undertaking these changes, North Macedonia aims to strengthen its governance framework, enhance transparency, and build a more robust democratic system—criteria essential for EU membership. These reforms are not only prerequisites for progressing in the EU accession talks but also serve to modernize the country’s institutions, making them more accountable and effective in serving its citizens.

 

The successful implementation of this project highlights North Macedonia’s commitment to reform and its readiness to meet the stringent requirements of EU membership. As the nation continues on this path, the lessons learned and the improvements made through the “Support to State Reorganisation” project will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping a more efficient, transparent, and democratic government.

EU4PAR Launches Comprehensive Training and Awareness Program for Ukraine’s New Administrative Legislation

EU4PAR established a comprehensive training program on the LAP. The initiative began by identifying a group of core trainers, comprising leading Ukrainian administrative law experts from academia and civil society. This team collaborated with experts in adult education, including online education, to design a multifaceted training package. As a result, almost twenty thousand people completed the LAP online course and obtained certificates by the end of May 2024, and nearly ten thousand people participated in online and offline informational and training activities.

 

To support the training process and raise awareness about the new legislation, EU4PAR launched a dedicated website serving as a toolbox containing information, guidance materials, and aids for various implementers of the law. This includes practical examples illustrating how the LAP is changing existing administrative procedures, guidebooks for practitioners, and article-by-article expert scientific commentary authored by leading administrative law experts in Ukraine. The LAP community of practitioners was established as a Facebook group, currently boasting more than 600 active participants, with the EU4PAR team providing page moderation. Furthermore, awareness about LAP was promoted through publications and interviews featuring experts and decision-makers across various mainstream and social media channels. The EU4PAR team also developed a methodology for assessing the compatibility of digital services with the LAP, considering the Ukrainian government’s emphasis on public service digitalization and the concept of a “state in the smartphone.” A special initiative was launched by EU4PAR with selected universities to encourage future young professionals to study administrative law and write about it.