The Center for Innovations Development is launching a new project dedicated to preparing communities for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union: «From policy changes to changes on the ground: preparing for EU accession through expert dialogue».
The process of European integration involves not only the adoption of new laws, but above all the readiness of communities to work effectively according to European principles of governance, participate in the EU’s regional development policy, and take advantage of the opportunities that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union will open up.
The Center for Innovations Development team will combine analytical work, training, and expert dialogue to help communities better prepare for the implementation of European approaches at the local level.
As part of the project:
- we will analyze the draft Law of Ukraine «On the principles of delineation and distribution of powers among levels of public governance» in comparison with practices in EU countries;
- we will conduct surveys of local communities and expert interviews regarding their readiness to implement the EU’s social cohesion policy;
- we will prepare an analytical report with practical recommendations on bringing Ukrainian legislation into greater alignment with the requirements and principles of the EU’s social cohesion policy;
- organize a series of webinars for communities focused on European approaches to multilevel governance and new management tools;
- present the results of the survey of local communities during public expert discussions.
Why is this important?
Research conducted by the Center for Innovations Development shows that only 17.6% of communities have experience participating in EU programs, only 35.8% have specialized units for managing international projects, and in 73.1% of communities, international affairs are handled by just one or two specialists. Strengthening the institutional capacity of communities is a prerequisite for Ukraine’s successful integration into the EU.
The first meeting of the project’s grantees took place, during which key activities were presented. Olesya Malyavina, an analyst from the Center for Innovations Development, participated in the event and presented the main directions of the project’s implementation, as well as the specifics of future research and training activities.
Ahead lies active work aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of communities and supporting Ukraine’s European integration at the local level. Stay tuned for our updates.
This material was prepared with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the joint initiative «Joining the EU Together». The material reflects the authors’ views and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the International Renaissance Foundation.