On 8 February, the Government Committee on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, International Cooperation, Culture, Youth, Sport and Information Policy endorsed a decision to approve the draft Annual National Program under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission for 2022 (hereinafter referred to as ANP-2022).

"The ANP is a guide to the successful implementation of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. This year's Program has been prepared with the participation of more than 80 public authorities and is much more focused on key reforms. This will allow us to move systematically to the level of compliance with the criteria of membership in the Alliance, as well as contribute to solving a number of socio-economic and security issues of Ukraine," said Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna.

ANP-2022, in particular, focuses on the following:

• intensification of reforms in Ukraine, in particular on the fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law, democratic civilian control over the security and defense sector;

• ensuring the interoperability of Ukraine's security and defense institutions with the Alliance;

• Ukraine's individual and/or joint contribution with NATO to the security of the Black Sea region;

• adaptation of the security and defense sector of Ukraine to NATO norms and principles, in particular the creation of a national system of sustainability and reform of the defense industry;

• deepening cooperation with NATO within the framework of the Enhanced Oportunities Partner status that Ukraine received in 2020;

• harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with the legislation of NATO member states in the field of security and defense;

• ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in the security and defense sector of Ukraine;

• increasing the level of professional competence of civil servants working on the implementation of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic course.

The ANP-2022, like the previous ANP-2021, is "human-centered": the main focus of public policy in the framework of Euro-Atlantic integration is to ensure security and human well-being as a key actor in national security.

The document is based on the modern global methodology of Results-Based Management (RBM), which is used by NATO member states and many international organizations in the process of development of strategic documents.

After approval by the Government, the draft ANP-2022 will be submitted to the President of Ukraine.

Background

The Annual National Program under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission for 2022 is a key tool for Ukraine to meet the necessary criteria for NATO membership. The structure of the ANP corresponds to the structure of the NATO Membership Action Plan, which lists the strategic goals, content, objectives and activities in the areas of political and economic issues, defense and military issues, resource issues, security issues, legal issues.