The present PhD project focuses on EU functional cooperation with Ukraine by using sociological institutionalism and path-dependency theories. In particular, it develops an analytical focus on the concept of democratic governance and adjusts its conceptual boundaries by investigating the case of Twinning in Ukraine. Drawing on the EU acquis, other official documents, and a series of interviews and surveys with key Twinning stakeholders from Ukraine and EU member states, this project evaluates formal channels of EU democratic governance promotion under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).