Ukraine and EU agree on reform plan for accession to the Union

Katerina Melnychenko
Katerina Melnychenko Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Ukraine and EU agree on reform plan for accession to the Union
Photo: Wikipedia
Brussels and Kyiv have agreed on a list of key reforms that should demonstrate Ukraine's readiness for EU membership

Ukraine has agreed with the European Union on a joint reform plan that will form the basis for further preparation for accession. This is stated in a statement by European Commissioner Martha Kos and Vice Prime Minister Taras Kachka, as quoted by «Evropeiska pravda».

The document was made public after the EU's General Affairs Council meeting, where the so-called frontloading was launched. This technical mechanism allows the EU and Ukraine to prepare for the closure of the negotiating chapters before Hungary lifts its veto on their official opening.

The statement emphasises that EU enlargement is a strategic investment in Europe's security and stability, and that Ukraine could become an important asset for the renewed Union. Kyiv, in turn, reaffirms that the success of the path to membership depends on progress in the areas of rule of law and the fight against corruption.

The parties identified 10 key priorities for Ukraine to implement over the next year:

• adopt comprehensive changes to the criminal procedure to speed up and improve the quality of justice, including the cancellation of automatic closure of cases, extension of the statute of limitations in corruption proceedings, strengthening the independence of the NABU and the SAPO and expanding their jurisdiction
• provide NABU with access to independent and timely expertise
• review the procedures for selecting and dismissing the Prosecutor General
• restore competitions for the appointment of prosecutors to senior and regional positions
• reform the State Bureau of Investigation
• appoint internationally vetted judges of the Constitutional Court and members of the High Council of Justice without delay
• expand the participation of international experts in the HQCJ competition commission
&bull adopt the law on declarations of integrity of judges, with the introduction of international participation for the Supreme Court
• approve the Anti-Corruption Strategy and the state programme by the second quarter of 2026
• strengthen internal control systems to prevent high-level corruption

Marta Kos emphasised that these points are not a new document, but are identified as priorities for Ukraine's successful movement towards the EU.

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