Ukraine and the EU Agree on Priority Reform Plan — Anti-Corruption at the Top

EU Commissioner Marta Kos and Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration announced an agreed action plan intended to confirm Ukraine’s readiness to join the European Union.

According to European Pravda, the document was published following a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council. Its main outcome was the launch of a technical process that will allow preparations for closing negotiation chapters even before Hungary lifts its veto on opening them.

The document sets out ten key reform priorities.

1. Adopt comprehensive amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and other legislation to ensure fast and high-quality justice, including by:

• removing the “Lozovyi amendments” in the part of automatic closure of criminal cases due to the expiry of pre-trial investigation time limits and reviewing the current time limits;
• addressing procedural impediments in criminal proceedings, particularly in high-level corruption cases, including preventing abuses of procedural rights; addressing procedural impediments in criminal proceedings, particularly in high-level corruption cases, including preventing abuses of procedural rights;
• extending the statute of limitations and strengthening the grounds for their interruption and suspension for corruption and corruption-related offenses, in line with European standards;
• expanding the jurisdiction of NABU and SAPO to cover all high-risk positions based on the available independent assessment.

2. Ensure that NABU has effective access to impartial, timely and high-quality forensic examinations.

3. Conduct a comprehensive review of the selection and dismissal procedure of the Prosecutor General, with a view to aligning it with European best practice with the involvement of the Venice Commission.

4. Renew selection process, appointments and transfers for prosecutors to managerial positions and other prosecutorial positions in the Prosecutor General’s Office, regional and district prosecutor’s offices.

5. Conduct an independent comprehensive review of the SBI’s institutional framework, integrity mechanisms, and oversight functions to assess the necessity and feasibility of further reforms in line with best European practices, which would lead to the preparation, adoption, and implementation of a law to accommodate the necessary recommendations.

6. Appoint without delays internationally vetted judges to the Constitutional Court and members of the High Council of Justice.

7. Extend, in close cooperation with the European Commission, the involvement of international experts in the selection commission for the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ).

8. Adopt the draft law on declarations of integrity of judges clarifying the content of the declarations, expansion of the time period covered, and improvement of the verification procedure. For the Supreme Court, this includes the temporary involvement of internationally nominated independent experts. Adopt legislation aimed at improving the enforcement of court decisions on monetary and non-monetary obligations and digitalization.

9. Adopt the Anti-Corruption Strategy and the State Anti-Corruption Program by Q2 2026.

10. Develop and strengthen internal control systems against high level corruption, including by:

• encouraging the State Audit Service to perform system-wide audit assessments of internal control in the public sector;
• developing a national plan of action to bring internal control and internal audit in line with international standards and good practice;
• embedding corruption risk management in overall organizational risk management. Ensuring that tools of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP), such as conflict-of-interest management and whistleblowing facilities, are widely integrated in internal control and internal audit practice of ministries and agencies.

All these priorities fully align with the recommendations of the European Commission’s report on Ukraine’s progress. At TI Ukraine, we are confident that implementing them will not only facilitate the country’s accession to the EU but will also significantly improve the broader anti-corruption environment.