A word “Twinning” originates from the English word “and twin” is “twin” and on the whole used for description of equal in rights collaboration. On the page of Determination description of Twinning and his basic lines is presented as to the instrument of alteration of institutsiynoy possibility. Landmarks of development and gradual distribution of application of instrument of Twinning on different regions within the framework of the programs of help of ES the Historical certificate is examined on a page. On a page Principles are contained list of basic principles of introduction of projects of Twinning.

Twinning is an institutional building tool. Twinning aims to help beneficiary countries in the development of modern and efficient administrations and organisations at central, regional and local level, with the structures, human resources and management skills needed to implement the acquis communautaire to the same standards as Member States. Twinning provides the framework for administrations in the beneficiary countries to work with their counterparts in Member States. Together they develop and implement a project that targets the transposition, enforcement and implementation of a specific part of the acquis communautaire. 

The main distinct feature of the Twinning project is direct exchange of specific national experience in EU legislation implementation.

Not similar to other technical assistance, a Twinning project is that it sets out to deliver specific and guaranteed results and not to foster general cooperation. The parties agree in advance on a detailed work programme to meet an objective concerning priority areas of the acquis.

The key input from administrations of EU Member States to effect longer-term change is in the core team of long-term seconded EU experts, practitioners in the implementation of the acquis, to administrations of new Member States, acceding, candidate or potential candidate country. The proposed experts should not be private consultants and not be collected from all EU Member States. Proposals from the EU member States are selected on quality only.

Each Twinning project has at least one Resident Twinning Adviser (RTA) and a Project Leader. The RTA is seconded from a Member State public administration or from another mandated body in a Member State to work full time for a minimum of 12 months in the corresponding ministry in partner country to implement the project. The Project Leader is responsible for the overall thrust and coordination of the project. They are supplemented by carefully planned and timed missions of other specialists, training events, awareness raising visits, etc. to accompany the reform process towards the targeted results.

Operators of Twinning projects are non-profit organisations with less experience of contractual relationship than consulting firms, becoming more and more professional with new Twinnings. They face human resources constraints since Twinning projects have no local and medium-term experts (except RTA assistant) but they have counterparts to Project Leader and RTAs from Beneficiary Administrations.

The Twinning project cycle is more demanding in terms of preparation and a specific competitive selection procedure is used for selection and evaluation of the potential MS partners.

Policy Advice (incl. law drafting, advice on organisational issues, awareness raising, etc.), training, study tours and internships are among the activities eligible for Twinning projects. These activities, together with eligible costs for the Twinning project implementation and all relevant procedures are described in the Twinning Reference Manual.

Twinning may be implemented as classic Twinning (up to 24 months) and light Twinning (up to 6 months), with budget up to 2 mln euros.

Mutual benefits of Twinning for counterparts:

   ·  Exchange of experiences and knowledge based on equal-level communication between twinning partners (civil servant to civil servant)

 ·  Implementation of best practices of EU member State public administration

 ·  Experience in the management of twinning projects

 ·  Complementarity in the case of a consortium

 ·  Alignment with current European legislation

 ·  Knowledge of political administrative systems

 ·  Long-term and structural working-relationships, professional networking, and, therefore, influencing attitude towards a beneficiary country in the EU

 ·  Training and improving professional capacity

 ·  Development and implementation of adapted legislation which is necessary for fulfilment of the obligations on joint Agreements and Action Plans, and for integrating into the European  markets

EC Twinning Reference Manual (2005)

Annex to the EC Twinning Reference Manual (2005)

Institution Building in the Framework of European Union Policies Common Twinning Manual (2007)

Annex a Twinning Contract And Other Relevant Annexes (2007)