Estonian security agencies advise Ukraine on reforms needed for EU accession

Photo: At the end of May, Estonian police officers and Ukrainian police chiefs met in Tartu (PPA)

Ukraine is implementing various reforms in its prison and policing systems to prepare for European integration. Special attention is being paid to ensuring human rights and the rule of law.

Modernising Ukraine’s prison system

Ukraine aims to learn from Estonia's experience in successfully reforming its prison and probation systems.

In May, Rait Kuuse, the head of the Estonian prison service, met with Ukraine's deputy justice ministers and the head of the prison service in Kyiv to sign a joint five-year cooperation memorandum. According to Kuuse, Estonia’s prison service considers international cooperation necessary even as it maintains its day-to-day security. 

"In the last two years, we have taken advantage of opportunities to offer Ukraine our support and to see and learn how they ensure continuity during the war. On the other hand, cooperation is important because we can support them in development work and, through our experience, help them adapt their criminal justice system as an EU candidate country," Kuuse said.

Photo: visit to the Academy of the Prison Service of Ukraine (Estonian Prison Service)

As part of the first cooperation project, a Ukrainian delegation will arrive in Estonia in the fall of 2024 to get an overview of the Estonian prison service. A study programme for ten Ukrainian prison officers will also begin soon; these officers will come to Estonia to acquire practical knowledge and pass it on when they return to Ukraine. The training programme was prepared in collaboration with the Prison Service and the Prison Service College of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences.

Eva-Maria Liimets, ESTDEV's programme manager for Democracy and the Rule of Law, said supporting Ukrainian prison service reform is difficult but essential. "We consider it very important that Ukrainian officials and policymakers directly familiarise themselves with best practices for the protection of human rights and to ensure the rule of law is upheld throughout the EU accession process and beyond," said Liimets.

Liimets said that Ukraine's current challenges are similar to those faced by Estonia before joining the European Union. By sharing experience and skills, Estonia can assist Ukraine in making more effective reforms.

Increasing the leadership capacity of the Ukrainian police

With the support of ESTDEV, the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has launched a project to develop the skills and knowledge of regional Ukrainian police chiefs and improve the work organisation of the units, which will increase reliability and reduce corruption.

During the almost two-year cooperation project, 36 police chiefs from three regions in Ukraine will undergo training in Estonia and meet with the leaders and experts from the East, West and South prefectures of the PPA.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Tarmo Viikmaa of the PPA’s International Cooperation Office, the training focuses on modern management practices, innovation, organisational culture and professional development. “Many Estonian police experts, including heads of prefectures, will share their experience with Ukrainian colleagues and participate in the project," said Viikmaa.

According to Liimets, closer cooperation between Estonian and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies will contribute to more effective developments in human rights, democracy, and internal security in Ukraine.

Supporting reforms necessary for EU accession

“Because of close cooperation with the Estonian public sector, this year we have launched several projects to support Ukraine's EU accession negotiations by bringing together Estonian public sector companies with their Ukrainian counterparts," Liimets said.

In addition to the Prison Service and PPA projects, ESTDEV has begun cooperating with the Supreme Court of Estonia to organise a study visit to Estonia for 15 Ukrainian state judges. The joint project aims to support the creation of an independent judicial system in Ukraine that complies with EU practices.

With ESTDEV’s support, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund has also advised on aligning the Ukrainian labour market with EU requirements—the cooperation framework calls for developing the information system, work capacity assessment, and unemployment counselling.

ESTDEV’s executive director, Klen Jäärats, said that Estonia has the necessary experience to support Ukraine. "The goal of ESTDEV as a development cooperation centre is to launch and finance these projects by collaborating with Estonia’s top experts and institutions with recent and relevant reform experience and who can work within the Ukrainian context during their accession to the European Union," Jäärats said.