Institution Building Days 2026 through the eyes of a Young European Ambassador

Being a Young European Ambassador (YEA) means being part of a community that connects people, ideas, and shared European values across borders. It is about learning from one another, building friendships, and contributing to positive change in our societies. This is why participating in Institution Building Days of TAIEX 2026 in Brussels, Belgium, was such a meaningful and unforgettable experience. 

TAIEX (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange) is a key European Union instrument for institutional capacity building, providing rapid and targeted support to public administrations in EU candidate countries and beyond. A key objective of TAIEX is to support the enlargement process by helping candidate countries align with EU legislation and implement the essential reforms needed for EU accession. Its mission is accomplished through various modalities such as workshops, expert missions with peer-to-peer exchanges, study visits and review of legal texts. Its main goal is to ensure a gradual integration with stronger public institutions, advancing growth plans and reform agenda, all while promoting regional stability and cooperation. 

The YEAs’ participation at the Institution Building Days 2026 was possible due to our involvement in the ‘30 YEARS, 30 FACES OF TAIEX: partners’ stories’ campaign where we had valuable conversations with institutions that were beneficiaries of TAIEX, all of them being transformed into insightful yet fun videos.

This year’s Institution Building Days were especially meaningful because we marked the official launch of TAIEX’s 30th Anniversary celebration. For three decades, TAIEX has been helping countries strengthen public institutions, support reforms, and move closer to European standards and values. Its mission is simple but powerful: stronger institutions create better lives for people. 

The first day of the event focused on how EU integration and institution building improve lives, create opportunities, and bring mutual benefits for both partner countries and EU Member States. Representatives from the European Commission, ambassadors, ministers, and policy experts shared valuable insights on reforms in justice, healthcare, digital transformation, economic development, and public administration.

One of the most memorable moments was the TAIEX 30th anniversary celebration, titled ‘30 Years Unbreakable Together: Strengthening Institutions, Changing Lives’. The participants of the event had the honour to listen to the thoughts and statements of Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, and Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space. 

After the discussion, there was an opportunity to ask the Commissioners important questions, where the Young European Ambassadors also took the initiative. It is also worth noting that Marta Kos invited all participants of the initiative for a joint photo and shaking hands, separately recognising the YEAs for their powerful work on the path to European integration. The event continued with the awarding of commemorative statuettes to EU Member States and partner countries in separate sections in honour of the effective use of Technical Assistance and Information Exchange. The final part was the ceremony of presenting a celebratory cake, the logo of which testified to ‘TAIEX – better institutions, better lives’.

The second day focused on the future – how TAIEX can continue supporting reforms and strengthening trust over the next 30 years. Participants had the opportunity to express their expectations for 2027 in one word, namely – what would you like to see in the next edition? The event was held in a roundtable format, where all attendees joined in team discussions.

Sometimes change starts with something small: one interview, one conversation, one shared story. Participating in the Institution Building Days 2026 showed us that even these small contributions can help to build trust, inspire reforms, and bring Europe closer together.