Twinning is a European Commission initiative as part of the preparations for the enlargement of the European Union (EU) launched in 1998. Twinning projects provided candidate countries and new EU Member States with knowledge and experience in the field of EU law. Targeted administrative cooperation helped them to develop effective administrative structures.

In the meantime, the focus of twinning activities has shifted to other potential candidate countries and EU neighbouring countries without accession prospects.

With current projects, this process is now to be continued in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region and the New Independent States. Bilateral relations are thus to be intensified and countries within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy brought closer to the EU. Important fields of action are also the environment and agriculture.

Brandenburg's participation in twinning projects in the field of rural development, environment and agriculture is carried out in close cooperation with the responsible federal ministries. The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection (MLUK) staff have supported Twinning projects in recent years, particularly as short-term experts. Focal points were in particular:

  • institution building in environmental and agricultural administration,
  • assisting administrations in recording environmental impacts and introducing environmental impact assessments,
  • the promotion of information management systems and
  • the development of a modern waste management system.

Project partners so far have been the countries Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Serbia, Armenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Egypt and Israel.

Twinning is a European Commission initiative as part of the preparations for the enlargement of the European Union (EU) launched in 1998. Twinning projects provided candidate countries and new EU Member States with knowledge and experience in the field of EU law. Targeted administrative cooperation helped them to develop effective administrative structures.

In the meantime, the focus of twinning activities has shifted to other potential candidate countries and EU neighbouring countries without accession prospects.

With current projects, this process is now to be continued in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region and the New Independent States. Bilateral relations are thus to be intensified and countries within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy brought closer to the EU. Important fields of action are also the environment and agriculture.

Brandenburg's participation in twinning projects in the field of rural development, environment and agriculture is carried out in close cooperation with the responsible federal ministries. The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection (MLUK) staff have supported Twinning projects in recent years, particularly as short-term experts. Focal points were in particular:

  • institution building in environmental and agricultural administration,
  • assisting administrations in recording environmental impacts and introducing environmental impact assessments,
  • the promotion of information management systems and
  • the development of a modern waste management system.

Project partners so far have been the countries Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Serbia, Armenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Egypt and Israel.