European partners urge restart of Ukraine’s justice agencies to meet EU standards
After a comprehensive review of Ukraine’s anti-corruption and law enforcement bodies, particularly NABU and SAP, European nations and institutions have concluded that it is necessary to reboot the activities of key structures such as the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) and the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR).
Their findings highlight that the autonomy and independence of NABU and SAP have enabled these agencies to demonstrate significant results in the fight against corruption and crime.
In contrast, other law enforcement agencies are lagging behind in reform efforts and modernization.
The European Union emphasizes that effectiveness in combating serious crime and utilizing European tools for analysis and forecasting should be the primary criteria for assessing progress.
“The key criteria for Ukraine’s future EU accession related to rule of law are contained within chapters 23 (“Rule of Law”) and 24 (“Justice, Freedom, and Security”).
These standards are broad and lack specific success metrics, complicating progress assessment,” explains expert Yevhen Krapivin.
He notes that many factors hinder objective measurement of rule of law, corruption levels, and security, forcing governments to operate within limits, promising reforms while sometimes taking opposite steps.
Moreover, EU institutions stress the importance of having functional, effective, and independent law enforcement bodies capable of fighting serious crime.
Closely linked is the need for regular audits and external oversight, which would help ensure transparency and accountability, including the ability to dismiss ineffective leaders.
Ukraine also seeks to move towards self-reliance, reducing dependence on international experts for staffing and decision-making.
An example of this process was the recent contest for the director of BEB, where international experts helped ensure transparency, but the government later violated law by refusing to appoint the winner, Oleksandr Tsvynskyi.
Such incidents cast doubt on the true independence of Ukrainian reforms and the capacity of institutions to operate without undue political influence.