5th edition – Natolin4Capacity Building Phase II

The 5th edition of the Tailored Onsite Knowledge and Analytical Skills Programme took place from 12 January to 20 February 2026 at the College of Europe in Natolin. This edition focused on Cluster 5: Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion, which addresses EU policies related to agriculture, environmental protection, regional development, and the management of EU funds. During the six-week programme, participants took part in lectures, seminars, and discussions examining EU policies in these areas and their relevance to the EU accession process.

The group included eight representatives from several Ukrainian public institutions: the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the State Audit Service of Ukraine, the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations, and the State Agency for Land Reclamation, Fisheries and Food.

As part of the programme, participants took part in institutional group visits in Warsaw, including meetings with experts from the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and the Representation of the European Commission in Poland.

The programme also included a study visit to Kraków, focusing on regional development, investment policy, and environmental solutions. Participants visited the Kraków Technology Park and discussed the functioning of the Polish Investment Zone, including project selection procedures, reporting, and oversight mechanisms. The group also visited the Thermal Waste Treatment Plant in Kraków, where discussions focused on waste-to-energy technology and environmental safeguards. The visit concluded with a meeting at the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region, where participants discussed funding allocation mechanisms and the institutional framework for implementing EU development policies in Poland.