As part of the EU-funded initiative “Natolin4Capacity Building Phase II – Strengthening Ukrainian Public Administration for EU Integration” (https://natolin4cb.eu/) the College of Europe in Natolin is proud to announce the launch of the first edition of a series of training courses on EU accession for Ukrainian public officials called the Tailored Onsite Knowledge and Analytical Skills Programme. It aims to support Ukraine's European aspirations by equipping public officials with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively manage the EU accession process and implement key reforms.     

The first group of 9 participants will focus on studying the fundamentals of European integration, social policy, and external relations — key thematic areas that mark the beginning and end of EU membership negotiations. Participants represent a wide range of Ukrainian state bodies: Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Justice, National Agency on Corruption Prevention, State Service on Medicines and Drugs Control, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Police of Ukraine. 

In total, 100 meticulously selected Ukrainian public officials will participate in six-week training courses delivered by EU experts, including practitioners with first-hand experience in membership negotiations.

The project, which runs until January 2027, will deliver training to 12 groups of 8–9 participants each. All participants in the six-week programme will be selected through an open competition and will represent central executive authorities.

What makes the programme unique is its effective combination of theoretical and practical elements tailored to the needs of Ukrainian negotiating teams. It will be delivered by EU member state experts who possess direct experience in the negotiation process. The practical component of the programme includes:

• Research training
• Development of an analytical paper under expert mentorship
• Group and individual field visits to deepen contextual understanding

The EU-funded initiative “Natolin4Capacity Building Phase II – Strengthening Ukrainian Public Administration for EU Integration” (https://natolin4cb.eu/) is implemented by the College of Europe in Natolin jointly with Ukrainian partners - the High School of Public Governance, the Governmental Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service.  

The current project, Natolin4Capacity Building Phase II, builds on the experience of its predecessor, Natolin4Capacity Building (N4CB), implemented in 2020-2024. At that time, we focused on supporting Ukraine in implementing comprehensive reforms and the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, as well as on activities arising from the country's obligations as a candidate country. 

Through this innovative educational model, Ukrainian public officials will enhance their understanding of EU law and policy, contribute to legal harmonization efforts, and gain the skills necessary to prepare negotiation positions—all within a collaborative, European learning environment.

Key Highlights of the Project:

• Tailored Onsite Knowledge and Analytical Skills Programme for 100 selected Ukrainian public officials at the Natolin campus
• Training of Trainers module for 36 participants,  which will equip participants with the skills required for successful dissemination of knowledge acquired through participation in the project educational offer.
• 22 customized e-learning courses, including 5 new courses, with selected content accessible to the wider public
• Onsite intensive training sessions in Kyiv, reaching 180 participants
• Expert-led webinars on key EU integration topics

For more information and updates, please visit https://natolin4cb.eu/ or follow the official Natolin4CB Facebook page.