Ukraine’s fight against corruption: EU support instrumental but more results needed

On 23 September, the European Court of Auditors issued a report on its performance audit of EU support to the fight against ‘grand corruption’ in Ukraine, covering the period 2016 to 2019.

The European Commission welcomed the report, in particular, the Court’s finding that a significant number of EU support actions in Ukraine’s fight against corruption assisted in moving the reform process forward.

In its report, the Court opines that less attention should have been given to building up anti-corruption institutions. But the Commission maintains this support was instrumental in bringing the lacking institutional infrastructure to Ukraine. “As a result, the anti-corruption architecture in Ukraine is now complete. It has started bringing tangible results, such as prison sentences for corrupt officials. The EU has also supported the introduction of an unprecedented and transparent electronic asset declarations system, requiring officials and politicians to disclose information about their private assets,” the Commission says.

The Commission agrees with the Court that more results are needed, and an intensified judicial reform is also important.

Also, the Commission embraces the Court’s recommendation to further intensify its support to both Ukraine’s vibrant civil society and investigative journalism, which have helped to uncover many corrupt schemes in Ukraine.

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Press release