On September 20, 2018 the Х Annual Richelieu Academic Readings: “Civil Service of Ukraine: Traditions and Innovations” started in Odessa.

The event was organized by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union, the National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine, the Odessa Regional Institute for Public Administration of the National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine, the Odessa Regional State Administration, the Odessa Regional Council, the Odessa City Council with the participation and support of the EU Project “Support to Comprehensive Public Administration Reform in Ukraine” (EU4PAR), the Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralization Support Project (DESPRO), the Representative Office of Hanns Seidel Foundation in Ukraine, the Council of Europe Programme “Decentralisation and Local Self-Government Reform in Ukraine” and the “U-LEAD with Europe” Programme.

The main goal of the event is a comprehensive discussion of the results of the implementation of the reform of public administration and civil service; political, socio-economic and managerial challenges related to the service reform in local self-government authorities, strengthening the capacity of representatives of these authorities in order to perform their functions in conditions of decentralization of power and elaboration of proposals for further ways of formation of a positive image and attractiveness of civil service and service in local self-government authorities.

During the first day of the Х Annual Richelieu Academic Readings at the premises of the Odessa Regional Institute for Public Administration of the National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine the All-Ukrainian Seminar with participation of regional and oblast centers for retraining and advanced training, higher educational establishments that provide professional training for Master’s degree in “Public Administration and Management”.

The Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service Kostiantyn Vashchenko and the First Deputy Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service Volodymyr Kuprii, Project Manager of the “U-LEAD with Europe” Programme Volker Stampe, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, Representative of the Secretary General in Charge of the Co-ordination of the Co-operation Programmes in Ukraine Мårten Ehnberg delivered their welcoming speeches to participants of the seminar.

Seminar participants had an opportunity to discuss modern trends in the professional development of civil servants and local self-government officials, international experience challenges in the analysis of training needs as well as the national training system. In addition, practical guidance on analysis of training needs of civil servants and local self-government officials for Ukraine was developed, in particular, on establishing an association of training centers as well as further steps of implementing the reform of the system of professional development of civil servants and local self-government officials.

Furthermore, a workshop for representatives of personnel management services and workshop for heads of interregional departments of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service were held.

Representatives of regional and oblast centers for retraining and advanced training, higher educational establishments that provide professional training for Master’s degree in “Public Administration and Management” took part in the events.

For reference: Richelieu Academic Readings were initiated by the Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as of 02 September, 2009 No 1765-r in order to ensure the systematic dialogue between the government, scientists and the public on the urgent issues of reforming of civil service and service in local self-government authorities.

The goal of the event is to discuss current issues of reforming public administration and civil service on the basis of European principles of public administration.