Today, on September 16, at a government meeting, Head of NACP Oleksandr Novikov asked that the Cabinet of Ministers support the draft Anti-Corruption Strategy developed by the Agency. The government unanimously approved the document.

The head of the NACP presented to the government some additions to the version of the strategy published on September 8.  For instance, changes were made to clause 3.1 of the Strategy following proposals from representatives of the judiciary.

  • The expected result No. 2 in clause 3.1.1: “New members of the High Council of Justice, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine are selected by an independent commission consisting of representatives (in equal proportions) of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, the public and international experts” has been replaced with “The integrity of new members of the High Council of Justice, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine is verified by an independent commission consisting of representatives (in equal proportions) of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, the public and international experts.”
  • The expected result No. 2 in clause 3.1.1: “members [of the High Council of Justice] who have not met these requirements [of integrity and professional ethics] have been dismissed” has been replaced with “review the issue of dismissing members who have not met these requirements.”
  • The expected result No. 3 in clause 3.1.3: “disciplinary practice concerning judges is open” has been replaced with “disciplinary practice concerning judges is clear, stable and open.

Oleksandr Novikov pointed out three things to the members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine:

  • the Anti-Corruption Strategy is an inclusive document developed in cooperation with all the ministries;
  • the Strategy is unique, since the first and only time an Anti-Corruption Strategy was ever approved in Ukraine was 2014; That is, the current document is only the second attempt to approve it at the national level;
  • the Strategy will have a significant economic impact, the reduced losses from corruption being estimated at UAH 200 billion a year.

Prime Minister Shmyhal proposed to the members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to approve the Fundamentals of the National Anti-Corruption Policy in Ukraine (Anti-Corruption Strategy) for 2020-2024, with one-day processing in the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in terms of the amendments mentioned by the Head of the Agency. The decision was made unanimously.

TI Ukraine welcomes that the Cabinet has approved the draft Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2024. Now the next step should be made by the Parliament.