Goal of the project
The goal of this project is to develop an in-depth training program for students and young academics from EU candidate countries via different university programs covering knowledge of the European union body of law, the EU values and the society hallmarks starting from each national body of law. In addition to the training programme leading to an academic degree, additional training will be offered to various civil society groups to prepare them for the changes that will have to follow the accession negotiations. The project will start in Ukraine and will be extended to other nations such as Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkan countries.
This initiative of members of the ELSA ́s (European Law Students Association) Alumni organisation will be realized in cooperation with a selection of top universities and institutes from the EU and Ukraine and with the support from both sides’ authorities. Regardless the outcome and timing of the accession negotiations, this will help to transform the societies in the candidate countries and will save time and money during the accession processes on both sides of the table.
An initial outline of the training program forms the basis for the future curriculum focused on the Acquis Communautaire. It will include different programs according to the needs and possibilities of the Ukrainian universities.
However, the aim of the project is to implement these training programmes for different groups in society throughout the accession process.
A project of fundamental importance for Ukraine
On the one hand the goal of this training programme is to train law students and students from the fields of political science and economics and young academics in EU law and EU policy to prepare this young generation for the requirements of the EU accession negotiations. On the other hand, to give access to selected parts of the study programme to certain groups of the civil society to gain an understanding of the accession process so that they can continue to have an impact on society. Thus, we will create an understanding of the reforms required for EU accession.
At the same time this qualifies the participants of the program for positions in public administration, politics, and business. This also goes hand in hand with embedding EU values in Ukraine and the other candidate countries and deepening political and economic integration while making the young generation more immune to authoritarian currents and oligarchic structures. By involving civil society, it should also be possible to counter any negative campaigns against the accession negotiations that are to be expected from the Russian side
In this way, a better understanding of the need for change and reform in Ukraine, and the other countries to enable the implementation of EU law will be achieved. This project is intended to train these young employees for the various state structures, but also for the civil society activities and the private sector.
A project of fundamental importance for the EU and its member states
Regardless of when and how Ukraine, Moldova and the other candidate countries joining the European Union, the education of the young generation plays a crucial role in firmly establishing EU values within these nations.
This project significantly benefits the European Union by cultivating a new generation of local experts familiar with EU laws and understanding the EU as a community of shared values. This expertise is vital for effectively implementing the necessary adjustments and reforms mandated by the EU, ensuring widespread public support for these essential changes. By opening the programme to civil society, the aim is also to gain a broad understanding of the accession process.
In the medium term, this would also mean that the entire interactions between the EU and candidate countries as well as a future accession process run more effectively, resulting in considerable cost savings for all parties.
Training Program
The academic training concept consists of a basic module that provides a fundamental understanding of EU law, the structures of the EU and how the EU is organised. A deep understanding of EU law is essential, particularly when dealing with the transposition, application and enforcement of rules and legislation in national administrations and legal systems. A profound knowledge in these areas is therefore an important element of a solid performance in consultations and meetings of the various bodies and committees of the EU.
In addition, this basic module can be further developed and adapted to the needs of the various groups in the civil society.
This basic module is then supplemented by three advanced modules, which can be studied separately. Successful completion of the programme requires successful completion of the basic module as well as successful completion of at least one advanced module (consisting of two Cluster)
The content of the negotiation topics is structured in 35 chapters, which in turn are summarised in six clusters. The Training program in the advanced modules is based on this structure. Therefore, the basic module is then supplemented by three advanced modules, which can be studied separately.
Basic Module: Introduction fundamental understanding of EU law (Certified Program)
The basic module should start by 01 September 2025 in Kyiv
- Official announcement, start of applications: April 2025
- Selection of students: May 2025
- Official kick-off in person in Kyiv with opening the e-library: June 2025
- Start of the lectures: 01 September 2025
The volume includes around 400 hours for students including 100 hours lectures, in total we will
provide 20 ECTS points. For the time being, the lectures will be implemented online
The content
Union law is not yet fully anchored in the curricula of many study programs. The EU-Academy
Program helps to fill these gaps and take students to a new level of EU knowledge. It provides
practice- oriented training in European Integration covering issues such as European
Institutional Law, Single Market Law, the political economy, and policy questions.
- History of European integration and development of EU law
I. The various contracts
II. Integration steps
III. Enlargement processes
IV. EU Institutions
2 ECTS points - Basics (depending on existing courses on law faculties)
I. competence of EU
II. Source of EU Law
III. EU primary law
IV. International law#
V. EU secondary law
VI. EU Court System
VII. The legal language of the European Union
6 ECTS - Part 2) Approximation Process: 15
I. Planning of law approximation
II. Preparation, national coordination and EU-requirements
III. Legal drafting in the context of EU law approximation
IV. Implementation of EU law in Ukraine – consequences
V. Compliance issues and anticorruption policy
6 ECTS
- The Single Market Concept:
I. Introduction to European Substantive Law: The Single Market
Concept
II. Free Movement of Goods
III. Free Movement of Persons
IV. Free Movement of Services and Freedom of establishment
V. Free Movement of Capital
VI. The Monetary Union
6 ECTS
Based on the experiences of this first round of basic module we will be optimizing the
program including additional tools for team working.
II. Advanced modules according to negotiation chapters
Once the long-term funding from the international organizations has been secured, we will
start implementing the advanced modules, whereas we will try to include also universities
from other cities such as Lviv or Kharkiv.
The different negotiation chapters are set in relation to the Ukrainian positions and the Ukrainian
legal framework to understand the needs for change and reform
Modul A) includes
CLUSTER 1: THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE ACCESSION PROCESS
- judiciary and fundamental rights (Chapter 23);
- justice, freedom and security (Chapter 24);
- public procurement (Chapter 5);
- statistics (Chapter 18); and
- financial control (Chapter 32).
CLUSTER 6: EXTERNAL RELATIONS
- external relations (Chapter 30) and
- foreign, security and defense policy (Chapter 31).
Modul B) includes
CLUSTER 2: INTERNAL MARKET
- free movement of goods (Chapter 1);
- freedom of movement for workers (Chapter 2);
- the right of establishment and freedom to provide
services (Chapter 3); - free movement of capital (Chapter 4);
- company law (Chapter 5);
- intellectual property law (Chapter 7);
- competition policy (Chapter 8);
- financial services (Chapter 9) and
- consumer and health protection (Chapter 28)
CLUSTER 3: COMPETITIVENESS AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH
- digital transformation and media (Chapter 10);
- taxation (Chapter 16);
- economic and monetary policy (Chapter 17);
- social policy and employment (Chapter 19);
- industrial policy (chapter 20),
- science and research (Chapter 25);
- education and culture (Chapter 26); and
- customs (Chapter 29)
Modul C) includes
CLUSTER 4: THE GREEN AGENDA AND SUSTAINABLE CONNECTIVITY
- transport (Chapter 14);
- energy (Chapter 15);
- trans-European networks (Chapter 21); and
- environment and climate change (Chapter 27
CLUSTER 5: RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND COHESION
- agriculture and rural development (Chapter 11);
- food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy
(Chapter 12); - fisheries (Chapter 13);
- regional policy and coordination of structural
instruments (Chapter 22); and - financial and budgetary provisions (Chapter 33).
