EU-Funded Programme at the College of Europe in Natolin Concludes a Year of Training, Preparing 33 Ukrainian Officials Across Three EU Accession Clusters

EU-Funded Programme at the College of Europe in Natolin Concludes a Year of Training, Preparing 33 Ukrainian Officials Across Three EU Accession Clusters

The fourth edition of the six-week Tailored Onsite Knowledge and Analytical Skills Programme on European Integration for Ukrainian public officials has concluded at the College of Europe in Natolin. The programme is implemented within the Natolin4Capacity Building Phase II (N4CB-II) project, funded by the European Union.

This edition focused on the negotiating cluster 'Competitiveness & Inclusive Growth', which comprises eight chapters - from taxation and customs legislation to digitalisation, science and research.

The programme combined academic lectures, mentoring, study visits and analytical assignments designed to support the practical application of EU approaches within national reform processes.

The N4CB-II programme has become a recognised opportunity for representatives of Ukrainian public authorities to deepen their expertise in European integration. For some participants of the fourth edition, the decision to apply was linked to the desire to better understand EU processes and assess the potential of the programme within their professional context.

"This programme is already well known among Ukraine's public officials. I had already heard good feedback from my colleagues, and that's why, when I saw the call for applications, I decided to apply myself and experience it first-hand," said Kateryna Kotsur, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

Some participants associated their engagement with the aspiration to work more effectively within the framework of European integration processes.

"I have the knowledge to help make the EU process in Ukraine faster and smoother. So I really appreciate being part of this programme," emphasised Mykola Kremez, Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.

During the training, participants emphasised the importance of maintaining focus due to the high intensity of the programme's content and activities.

"I would advise everyone who will take part in the programme in its next phases to stay focused and be as energetic as possible, because there really is a great deal of information. It is worth approaching this as intellectual sport. This opportunity is exceptionally rare, interesting, and also energy-consuming. Therefore, I wish everyone to be productive and energetic," shared Nazar Kushnir, State Tax Servise of Ukraine.

Several participants reported improvements in their professional activities as a result of their involvement in the programme.

"Participating in the programme will help me achieve my goals related to the implementation of the European acquis. It will help me develop the action plan for implementation and describe all the activities and steps we need to take. Communication with experts from the European Union and with authorities from different countries will help me understand how we should carry this out, in greater detail and on a more expert level," noted Maryna Kupchuk, Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

"I will return to my work environment with a ready plan for implementing the directive I am working on - not only from the legislative side but also in practical terms, including how to establish the entire process," said Mykhailo Mishyn, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

"I hope to implement all of the knowledge I gained here into my practical work, and I hope it will help me not only to develop my own skills but also to share this experience with my colleagues in the customs system," Svitlana Galko, State Customs Service of Ukraine.

Participants also viewed the programme as an opportunity to strengthen their competences and expand their professional capacity.

"I think that collaborating with colleagues from different authorities will help us find better solutions and inspire us," shared Yana Riabovol, State Tax Service of Ukraine.

"I do believe that I will achieve more because of this programme, as I have already gained this analytical experience," noted Yuliia Borovska, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

In 2025, a total of 33 public officials completed four editions of the Tailored Onsite Knowledge and Analytical Skills Programme on European Integration. Two editions were dedicated to the Fundamentals cluster, while the remaining two focused on the Internal Market and on the Competitiveness & Inclusive Growth accession cluster. The fifth edition will begin in mid-January 2026 with a focus on Cluster 5 - Resources, Agriculture & Cohesion.

The fifth edition will begin in mid-January 2026 with a focus on Cluster 5 - Resources, Agriculture & Cohesion. The sixth edition, scheduled for 1 March - 10 April 2026, will address Cluster 4 - Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity, while the seventh edition, taking place from 19 April - 29 May 2026, will focus on Cluster 2 - Internal Market. The call for applications for the 6th and 7th editions is open until 26 December 2025.

Further information on the application process is available on the programme's website and through the dedicated link.

About N4CB-II

Natolin4Capacity Building Phase II - Strengthening Ukrainian Public Administration for EU Integration (N4CB-II) is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the College of Europe in Natolin and the High School of Public Governance, in cooperation with the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service.

The project builds on the previous EU-funded Natolin4Capacity Building (N4CB) initiative, implemented between 2021 and 2024.

Key Highlights:

• Tailored Onsite Knowledge and Analytical Skills Programme on European Integration for 100 selected Ukrainian public administration employees at the College of Europe in Natolin;

• Training of Trainers module for 36 public administration employees, who are interested in sharing their experience and knowledge as course developers and trainers in European integration topics;

• 22 customized e-learning courses on European integration, including 5 newly developed ones, some of which will be made publicly accessible;

• Onsite intensive training sessions in Kyiv, reaching 90 participants;

• Expert-led webinars on key EU integration topics

For more information, visit https://natolin4cb.eu/ or follow Natolin4CB on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Contact person: Svitlana Ovcharova, [email protected]