Background

In 2013-2014, the events of the Euromaidan ‘Revolution of Dignity’ aroused legitimate distrust of the Ukrainian people in their civilian security sector bodies, with a series of violent events involving protesters, riot police, and unknown shooters in the capital, Kyiv. That is why the Ukrainian government reached out to the EU for support to reform the law enforcement agencies and re-establish trust with the people. In December 2014, EUAM Ukraine was created and international advisors were brought to the country from Europe to advise on security, police, judiciary, prosecution, anti-corruption and human rights.

Mission & goals

Since 2014, EUAM has worked closely with its Ukrainian counterparts to expedite a sustainable reform of the civilian security sector, providing strategic advice and hands-on support for specific reform measures in accordance with EU standards and international principles of good governance and human rights.

The EUAM mandate is implemented according to three pillars of activity:

• Strategic advice on civilian security sector reform, in particular the need to develop civilian security strategies;
• Support for the implementation of reforms, through the delivery of hands-on advice, training and other projects;
• And cooperation and coordination, to ensure that reform efforts are coordinated with Ukrainian and international actors.

The civilian security sector comprises institutions responsible for law enforcement and rule of law, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Police, Security Service of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service, General Prosecutor’s Office, local courts, anti-corruption bodies with roles also played by civil society and the parliament of Ukraine.

Composition

Based in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa and Mariupol, the EUAM team of over 300 Ukrainian and international staff based in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa and Mariupol delivers the EUAM mandate that strives to create a civilian security sector for Ukraine that is efficient, accountable and enjoys the trust of the public.

EUAM Ukraine’s team of international advisors mainly comes from Member States of the European Union, and they bring to the Mission a wealth of expertise in security, police, judiciary, anti-corruption, human rights and public communication to share with the Mission’s Ukrainian counterparts, in a joint effort to expedite the civilian security sector reform process.

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