EU Advisory Mission Ukraine – building sustainable capacities in war-affected areas

What does EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine do, and what has been its impact on the ground?

Rolf Holmboe: EUAM Ukraine is both strategic and operational. We provide high-level advice on for instance reforming Ukraine’s civilian security sector, on reform of the Security Service of Ukraine, and on integrated border management. We work with Parliament – the Verkhovna Rada - to build democratic oversight functions. We build sustainable Ukrainian capacities by working along the triad of training of trainers, development of training curricula, and development of command competences. We partner with and mentor Ukrainian colleagues in Stability Policing tasks in war-affected areas, in ensuring accountability for international crimes, in preventing and managing organised crime and countering Russian online recruiting of vulnerable groups for subversive purposes, and on building inter-agency cooperation for maritime security.

The results are visible and at scale, and this reflects not least the ability of our Ukrainian partners to undertake comprehensive reforms at the same time as fighting the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War, and their determined ability to absorb and progress on development and capacity building at an impressive speed.

The results are particularly visible when comparing the situation in 2014, at the outset of the Mission after the Maidan Revolution, and now. Through those more than 10 years, EUAM has been a major partner in their reform processes. The civilian security sector has undergone a transformative change from being instrumentalised against the people, to being one that proudly serves the people. The law enforcement agencies much more function to European standards of professionalism, accountability, and trust, and they are well on the way to go the last mile to live up to the EU accession conditions.

Our impact is measured in trust: trust between citizens and the state, and trust between Ukraine and the European Union.

Our impact is measured in trust: trust between citizens and the state, and trust between Ukraine and the European Union. Every day, our shared efforts make Ukraine stronger. By doing so, they make Europe safer.

How does EUAM Ukraine contribute to our European security interests?

RH: EUAM Ukraine is an integral part of Europe’s collective security architecture. Our Mission’s work may take place in Kyiv, Odesa, or Lviv, but its effects resonate far beyond Ukraine’s borders. A stable, democratic, and resilient Ukraine means a safer Europe.

Our task is two-fold - to support Ukraine in responding to their massive wartime challenges and the pivotal role the civilian security agencies play in this, and secondly to help Ukraine build the democratic institutions that underpin their path into the European Union – transparent, accountable, and citizen-centred law enforcement and a justice system that earns public trust.

By supporting our Ukrainian partners in the civilian security sector and in the national security framework on reforms to align with EU standards, not least regarding building an accountable, transparent civilian security sector under democratic control and fighting corruption efficiently, we are helping to anchor Ukraine firmly within our European Rule of Law community.

By supporting integrated border management, we are helping Ukraine to align to Schengen and EU Customs Union standards.

By strengthening law enforcement and border agencies in countering organised crime and not least smuggling in all its forms, we are helping Ukraine in fighting transborder criminal networks, and by that we are also contributing to the protection of EU Member States. Strengthening Ukraine’s border security and its law enforcement cooperation with EU partners directly supports Europe’s own internal security.

Lessons learned in fighting hybrid threats could be of great value for European partners

By strengthening resilience and building capacity in the civilian security sector, we are helping Ukraine to fight the Russian hybrid warfare that is currently being waged against Ukraine. The Ukrainian instruments and lessons learned in fighting hybrid threats could be of great value for European partners encountering similar threats.

By helping Ukraine in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes, we are not only supporting accountability for the countless war crimes committed in Ukraine, but we are also contributing to upholding the very international order that has been painstakingly built since 1945 and that is the foundation for our global peace, security, and prosperity.

When Ukrainian police, prosecutors, and border guards, as key parts of the civilian security sector, function effectively and transparently, Europe becomes safer. Ultimately, the line between European and Ukrainian security is no longer a border, but a shared responsibility.

European Union

How does EUAM Ukraine contribute to the management of a current crisis, Ukraine’s stability, and Europe’s partnership with Ukraine?

RH: Russia’s full-scale invasion has confronted Ukraine and Europe with an unprecedented crisis and challenge. EUAM Ukraine adapted swiftly, expanding advisory and operational support to help Ukraine meet the realities of war.

For instance, in support to the investigation and prosecution of international crimes, EUAM - both directly and in the context of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group together with US and UK – works to build the competences of investigators and prosecutors spanning a number of specialised areas of expertise in the nine war-affected regions and conducts reviews of cases in preparation for the prosecutions.

A key undertaking is the building of a Ukrainian Stability Policing capability of more than 40 000 law enforcement officers to support the civilian population in the war-affected areas to ensure their safety and security, to uphold the rule of law, and to work with communities to overcome challenges and resolve conflicts.

Our Mission has become a bridge between crisis response and long-term reform. We help ensure that even under wartime conditions, Ukrainian institutions continue to deliver to their citizens and align with European principles of accountability and human rights.

A key engagement for the Mission is to continuously deepen the partnership between Ukrainian and European institutions and with Member States, paving the way for Ukrainian inclusion into European cooperative structures in several areas, such as border management, financial and transborder crimes, maritime security, and on hybrid threats. This partnership has deepened in ways few could have imagined four years ago, and in practice, this is Europe in action and an expression of European solidarity. Supporting Ukraine’s reforms and stability is not only for Ukraine; it is a strategic investment in our shared future.