On 5-6 November 2026, the Professional Training Centre held a two-day online course entitled “The Process of Accession to the EU: Politics, Key Players, Mechanisms and Legal Aspects – What It Means for Ukraine.”

The course provided a comprehensive analysis of the European Union’s enlargement process, including its political, institutional and legal dimensions, as well as the practical challenges facing Ukraine on its path towards full EU membership.

Particular attention was paid to the EU’s decision-making mechanisms and the role of its Member States in the accession negotiations. Participants examined the division of responsibilities between the European Commission and the Member States, as well as the importance of political consensus in enabling candidate countries to progress through each stage of European integration.

An important part of the seminar focused on the diplomatic dimension of Ukraine’s EU accession. In particular, attention was given to the role of Ukrainian diplomatic missions in European capitals, their engagement with Member State governments, their efforts to build support for Ukraine’s European aspirations, and the timely provision of information to Kyiv on the positions and attitudes of European partners.

The seminar was delivered by British diplomats and experts in European and international affairs: Michael Roberts, former British Ambassador to Slovakia, consultant and trainer specialising in EU and international affairs; and Jeremy Hill, a British diplomat, international lawyer and former British Ambassador to Lithuania and Bulgaria.