Ukraine received the European Commission Award for the effective use of the TAIEX Instrument

Under the coordination of the Minister of Health of Ukraine, Viktor Liashko, the Ministry of Health is systematically strengthening the European integration efforts within the healthcare sector. This specifically includes aligning Ukrainian legislation with European Union law (the EU acquis), developing institutional capacity, and actively leveraging European expert support mechanisms.

In recognition of these efforts, Ukraine was awarded as a TAIEX Champion for Effective Use of TAIEX under Challenging Conditions.

The award was presented during the Institution Building Days 2026 in Brussels, organised to mark the 30th anniversary of the European Union instrument for institutional capacity-building. The event brought together representatives from EU Member States, partner countries, the expert community, and institutions working to strengthen public administration, implement reforms, and bring candidate countries closer to EU standards. Maryna Slobodnichenko, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine for European Integration, also participated in the event.

Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX) is an EU instrument that provides rapid expert support and facilitates the exchange of practical experience between public administration bodies of EU Member States and partner countries. It assists candidate countries in implementing European standards, aligning national legislation with EU law, and strengthening the institutional capacity of public entities. Support is provided through practical formats, including expert missions, seminars, study visits, and consultations with specialists from EU Member States. 

For Ukraine, TAIEX is one of the key tools in preparation for EU membership. It enables public agencies to receive practical expert support, learn from the experiences of EU Member States, and implement solutions that have demonstrated effectiveness within the EU.

The Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union, operating under the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service (NAUCS), coordinates systematic efforts to implement this tool in Ukraine. Specifically, the Center provides strategic coordination, organizational support, and facilitates collaboration between Ukrainian beneficiary agencies and European experts.

It is important to note that in healthcare, Ukraine continues to demonstrate a high level of progress in its European integration efforts. The European Commission 2025 Report noted Ukraine’s significant progress under Chapter 28, “Consumer and Health Protection,” which received a good progress assessment.

Currently, the Ministry of Health is utilizing TAIEX tools to regulate cosmetic products, medical devices, and biocidal products. Furthermore, work is underway on a Twinning project to establish the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency in collaboration with partners from Poland, Lithuania, and Germany, as well as with the support from France, Croatia, Estonia, Sweden, and Denmark.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health is preparing a number of new TAIEX projects focused on the evaluation of medical devices, the registration of medicinal products, the regulation of dietary supplements, the protection of personal data, the operation of medical information systems, data management, and the development of cross-border healthcare.

In this context, attention was drawn to Ukraine’s significant role in the future enlargement of the European Union and the development of new formats for exchanging experience between the EU and candidate countries. These issues were discussed during a political panel with the participation of European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius.

Participants emphasized that EU enlargement today holds not only economic but also security significance. In particular, Europe can benefit from Ukraine’s practical experience in countering hybrid threats, cyberattacks, protecting critical infrastructure, and operating under wartime conditions.

Within this framework, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos underscored the resilience of Ukrainian institutions. She emphasized that, despite the ongoing war, Ukraine continues to operate systematically, implement reforms, and effectively utilize the opportunities provided by the TAIEX instrument.

This is demonstrated by concrete results. In the period 2022–2026, Ukraine implemented 173 TAIEX activities, involving 6,518 representatives from public authorities.

From 2006 to February 2026, Ukraine conducted a total of 1,102 TAIEX activities, involving 26,460 representatives from public entities. These activities include expert missions, seminars, study visits, and consultations that support the implementation of EU standards within public administration.

The TAIEX award confirms that, despite challenging circumstances, Ukraine continues to move steadily toward integration with the EU.

In turn, TAIEX will continue to be one of the key tools for supporting reforms and preparing Ukraine for the EU accession negotiation process. Specifically, it helps public authorities adapt more quickly to European regulations and effectively implement the practical solutions necessary for Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union.

For reference, TAIEX is an external assistance tool provided by the European Commission to facilitate the exchange of information aimed at building the institutional capacity necessary to align national legislation with EU legislation.

The instrument was established in 1996 by the European Commission Directorate-General for Enlargement as a program designed to assist candidate countries in promptly addressing issues related to the implementation of EU legislation.

More information is available at the following link.