Target groupThe seminar is intended for civil servants and other persons interested in enhancing their knowledge on the Twinning instrument.DescriptionFrom among the many cooperation mechanisms developed by the European Union, Twinning has been one of the most extensively and successfully applied institution-building programmes over the past years. It has assisted the new Member States and the (potential) candidates in preparing for EU accession, and in the full adoption of the acquis communautaire. Since 2005, Twinning has also been applied in the countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).MethodThe seminar is implemented by experienced Twinning practitioners and will draw upon real life examples, referring to numerous Twinning projects that have been carried out in the past. The facilitators will give an introduction into the concept of the Twinning project, and will go through the successive components of the process, with a focus on potential risks and ways to address these. Each subject will be explained through a short theoretical presentation, illustrated by real life examples. The seminar will be highly interactive, and participants will be encouraged to share experiences and ask practical questions. Lessons learnt from the implementation of previous projects will be drawn upon for the successful realisation of new projects.ObjectivesThe objectives of the seminar are:1. to bring together public officials and other persons involved (or planning to be involved) in Twinning projects, both from the Member States and the beneficiary countries, so that they can share their knowledge and practical experiences, identify essential cooperation issues and extend their network;2. for participants to achieve an in-depth understanding of all components of the process of preparation and implementation of a Twinning project;3. to discuss and analyse from the practical point of view the main opportunities and challenges of the Twinning project as an effective cooperation tool within the context of the EU integration process;4. to develop and enhance practical skills in drafting the necessary documents linked to the preparation of a Twinning project (Fiche/Logframe, Twinning proposal, Twinning contract).