Oleksii Kuleba discusses expanded cooperation in regional development with Polish Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy

On 30 April in Brussels, Belgium, a bilateral meeting took place between delegations from Ukraine and the European Commission as part of the official screening of Ukrainian legislation’s alignment with EU law under Chapter 26, “Education and Culture,” within Cluster 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth.”

Ukraine’s progress was presented by Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science; Dmytro Zavhorodnii, Deputy Minister of Education and Science for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalisation; Oleksandra Husak, Director General of the Directorate for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration; Andrii Chesnokov, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports; Viktoriia Riasna, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports for European Integration; Andrii Nadzhos, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications for European Integration; and representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation.

“Although EU legislation in the areas of education, training, youth, sports, and culture does not require direct implementation in national law, Ukraine is adopting all EU legal acts under Chapter 26. We are confident this will significantly advance Ukraine’s next steps towards full alignment with the European Education Area. While many sectoral objectives at the EU level are already reflected in Ukraine’s strategic documents, we aim to shape our policies in line with shared EU values, principles, and spirit,” Yevhen Kudriavets emphasised in his opening remarks.

The Ukrainian delegation informed their European counterparts that Ukraine is actively implementing EU recommendations from the 2023 and 2024 Enlargement Packages, aimed at advancing sectoral initiatives and reforms.

Ukraine is also progressing with reforms under the Ukraine Facility Plan. Notably, the draft Law “On Vocational Education” has passed its first reading, and the Law “On Preschool Education” has entered into force, with 24 of the 35 required by-laws already approved to ensure its implementation.

The Ukrainian delegation expressed gratitude to the European Commission for the EU’s support since the onset of the full-scale aggression, particularly through initiatives such as “School Buses for Ukraine” and “Laptops for Ukraine,” the publication of school textbooks, and funding for school repairs, reconstruction, and the reform of school meals. The EU’s role in raising awareness of Ukraine’s education system in Europe, supporting mutual recognition of qualifications, and strengthening international cooperation among educational institutions was also highlighted.

Ukraine highly values its participation in the international dimension of the EU’s Erasmus+ programme and continues to study the experiences of EU member states and third countries associated with Erasmus+ that hold participant status.

Ukrainian educational institutions are leveraging opportunities from other EU programmes, such as the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Interreg, LIFE, Digital Europe, and Creative Europe.

“Ukraine seeks to expand sectoral cooperation with the EU by using accelerated integration tools, including joining expert groups of the European Education Area, such as the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Group, the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education Group, the European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET) Group, and others. Ukraine also aims to participate in other EU sectoral initiatives, such as CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training), the Education and Training Monitor, the European Master’s in Translation, and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships,” Yevhen Kudriavets stressed.

It was also noted that Ukraine remains fully committed to its European development path in the youth and sports sectors, adopting European approaches in shaping national strategies and policies.

Ukraine is also working to implement pan-European approaches in the cultural sphere, particularly through the development of national strategies, action plans, and cultural development programmes, aiming to align them with European priorities.

Background

Chapter 26, “Education and Culture,” falls under Cluster 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth,” and covers education, vocational training, youth, sports, and culture. European legislation in this area is primarily governed by soft law instruments – Resolutions, Recommendations, Decisions, and Communications – whose objectives and core principles are largely reflected in strategic education and training documents and public policy documents.