The experience of foreign countries in organising the EU negotiation process was discussed by participants of an international seminar held on 8 May on the occasion of Europe Day.

The purpose of the event was to facilitate in-depth discussion and exchange of experience on the theoretical and conceptual aspects of the decision-making process and the dynamics of negotiations between the EU member states in the context of Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

The participants of the event included representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Deputy Ministers for European Integration, State Secretaries of Ministries, representatives of central executive bodies, other government agencies, heads of structural units responsible for European integration, representatives of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, ITA projects and programmes, international organisations, Ukrainian and international experts.

The seminar addressed the current state of the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession to the EU; the experience of negotiating accession processes of EU member states and candidate countries; gender mainstreaming in the EU accession process; foreign and national experience in organising training for public servants on European integration.

Yuliia Lykhach, Head of the High School, moderated the panel “Gender mainstreaming in the process of EU accession”. Gender mainstreaming is one of the key principles based on the understanding that taking gender equality into account in all aspects of policy and decision-making leads to a more just and inclusive society.

For the second year in a row, the High School has been implementing the advanced training programme “Negotiations with the EU and the Dynamics of Decision-Making: A Practical Approach” for professionals whose area of expertise includes cooperation with the EU. In addition, in 2023, 18 in-service training programmes in the area of European integration were developed, and in 2024, 2,312 public servants will be trained in this area.

The seminar was organised by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, the Centre for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union, the High School of Public Governance with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation and UN Women Ukraine.