EU Commission assesses Ukraine’s new anti-corruption law
Photo: European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier (europa.eu)
The European Commission believes that the law on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, adopted today by the Verkhovna Rada, addresses the main challenges regarding the independence of these bodies, said European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier at a briefing in Brussels.
"The EU has clearly expressed its serious concerns about last week's adoption of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code in Ukraine. Since then, we have been in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities to correct the situation," the spokesperson said.
He emphasized that the European Commission’s messages have always been clear.
"Ukraine must build its future as an EU member state on a strong foundation and maintain independent anti-corruption bodies, which are a cornerstone of the rule of law," the Commission stated.
The European Commission added that today's vote in the Verkhovna Rada on the NABU and SAPO law has restored key safeguards to ensure the independence of the anti-corruption institutions.
"In our view, the adopted law addresses the main challenges to the independence of NABU and SAPO. At the same time, we need to review the final text. It should be emphasized that this is not the end of the process," the statement said.
The European Commission emphasized that Ukraine’s path to EU membership will require ongoing efforts to implement effective anti-corruption measures and uphold the rule of law.
"We expect Ukraine to swiftly fulfill its commitments and take decisive steps towards strengthening the rule of law. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and stand ready to support Ukraine," the spokesperson added.
Law on NABU and SAPO
On July 22, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the controversial bill No. 12414, which significantly weakened the independence of NABU and SAPO. This decision sparked a wave of criticism from both anti-corruption institutions and Ukraine’s Western partners. The G7 and the European Commission accused the authorities of rolling back reforms and, unofficially, warned of a potential suspension of financial support to Ukraine.
The very next day, the law came into force. It granted the Prosecutor General new levers of influence over anti-corruption cases: the ability to reassign jurisdiction, interfere in SAPO’s operations, and even sign suspicions without the involvement of NABU or SAPO.
Amid protests and international pressure, President Zelenskyy submitted an alternative bill No. 13533 to Parliament. The draft had been coordinated with the government, law enforcement agencies, and the anti-corruption bodies themselves. Its aim was to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO.
The Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Law Enforcement swiftly supported the presidential initiative without any amendments, and on July 31, the Parliament unanimously passed the document.
Moreover, President Zelenskyy has already signed the law restoring the independence of NABU and SAPO. The document will be urgently published in Holos Ukrainy.
The new law returns NABU and SAPO to the status of independent bodies, limits the Prosecutor General’s powers over their activities, and introduces safeguards against external pressure.
