
Launch the new EU Anti-Corruption Initiative
1 June 2017, Kyiv
Dear Ivanna [Klympush],
Dear ambassador [Ruben
Madsen]
Colleagues from the
anti-corruption institutions,
Ladies and Gentleman,
I am particularly
pleased to come to Ukraine at a moment when the entry into force of the
visa-free regime for Ukraine is only ten days away. This was a major
deliverable for the EU and it shows that reforms pay off, in particular in the
area of anti-corruption where they were particularly painful.
And, two days ago, the
Dutch Parliament gave its final OK to the Association Agreement. That clears
the way for the full ratification by the EU.
Anti-corruption
reforms in Ukraine are of key importance for the EU and a pressing demand of
the Ukrainian society. Corruption is still the major impediment to Ukraine's
economic and political development and the EU has a strong interest in having a
democratic and prosperous Ukraine as a neighbour and
friend.
Ukraine started an
ambitious anti-corruption reform and the EU wants to do all it can to make sure
these reforms succeed. I came to Ukraine last autumn to announce that the EU
decided to commit some €16m to a major new initiative in support of Ukraine's
anti-corruption reforms.
Today, therefore, I am
happy to officially launch the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative for Ukraine. It is
the biggest EU support programme in the area of
anti-corruption so far. The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
has already embarked on the implementation of the programme
and we are grateful for a financial contribution from the Kingdom of Denmark.
The EU Advisory Mission is embedding one of its international experts with the programme which shows the comprehensive approach we are
following here. And with Eka Tsekelashvili
we have an excellent head of the Initiative.
Let me briefly outline
the three main elements of the new initiative:
1. We want to boost
the capacity of the newly created anti-corruption institutions to investigate,
prosecute and sanction corruption.
2. We want to
strengthen the capacity of the Verkhovna Rada's Anti-corruption committee to scrutinise
corruption-related legislation and to monitor reform implementation. At the
request of the Rada, we will create an Advisory Board
of international experts to assist the Rada with this
task.
3. And we want to foster the involvement of
civil society and the media in anti-corruption initiatives, in particular in
the regions. We will support local authorities which back real change and are
ready to cooperate with civil society organisations
to put in place a full range of anti-corruption measures in the municipalities.
We want to create examples of what we call "integrity cities" where
the people of Ukraine can see what difference it makes to live in an
environment free of corruption and that yes, it is possible if you really want
it.
A wide range of
support will be made available – expertise, training, IT supplies, grants for
anti-corruption organisations – which can be adapted
to the changing needs of the beneficiaries.
The EU is happy to
provide assistance but we also expect Ukraine to deliver results. Let me highlight three
points in this respect:
Firstly,
E-declarations. The recent amendments of the e-declaration law
extending the e-declarations to NGOs and non-resident supervisory board members
have been a mistake. It is good to hear that the President wants to correct
this and we are ready to support him in this.
Secondly, National
Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (known as NABU): NABU has been one of the
success stories in Ukraine's fight against corruption but we are worried that
their independence and effective functioning are too often put into question.
Currently, we are concerned that the appointment of the 3 NABU auditors is
becoming politicised. The remaining two auditors
should be appointed swiftly [by President and Rada],
in line with the respective law and in a transparent way. NABU should
also get finally the power to conduct wiretapping independently.
Thirdly,
the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption. This
institution needs urgently to start delivering on its mandate. By this, I mean
in particular the effective and objective verification of e-declarations and
the identification of potential conflicts of interest amongst public officials. Here as well it is
good to hear that also Ukrainian politicians are unhappy with the current
situation and want to change it.
Finally, we need to
see the establishment of special anti-corruption courts. So far progress with anti-corruption cases in
court has been slow and it is urgent that the specialised
courts get off the ground.
Let me conclude: There
is still some way to go on the path of the difficult reform process but I
continue to share my confidence amongst my friends and colleagues in the EU
that Ukraine remains serious in its determination to conquer corruption across
the board – from municipalities and regions across Ukraine to the centre of power in Kyiv, from the civil service to the
courts. Be assured that the European Union stands by you in this most serious
fight.
European Commission:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019/hahn/announcements/launch-new-eu-anti-corruption-initiative_en