EU swiftly punishes Ukraine over NABU and SAP corruption scandal
Photo: Euro (Getty Images)
The European Union has temporarily suspended $1.7 billion in aid to Ukraine due to the country’s failure to implement key anti-corruption reforms. Funding may be restored if Kyiv fulfills the required conditions, including the establishment of a specialized anti-corruption court, according to The New York Times.
The European Union has temporarily suspended financial assistance to Ukraine totaling $1.7 billion due to concerns over the country’s progress on anti-corruption reforms.
The funds are part of a broader €50 billion support package approved by the EU to promote Ukraine’s macro-financial stability, recovery, and reform efforts. However, access to portions of this funding was conditioned on meeting specific reform milestones, known as "progress benchmarks."
Among the unmet conditions is the appointment of judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court, a key institution in Ukraine’s fight against high-level corruption. The EU has also expressed concerns over the transparency of the process and the overall pace of reforms in the justice sector.
Aid to be restored
European and G7 leaders insist that the independence of anti-corruption institutions is essential to maintaining support for Ukraine and advancing its path toward EU membership.
If the Ukrainian government fulfills the reform conditions, particularly by appointing independent judges and ensuring the effective operation of anti-corruption agencies, the suspended funds may be released in upcoming disbursement phases.
EU officials emphasize that support for Ukraine remains a top priority, especially amid the ongoing war, but stress the importance of good governance, transparency, and the rule of law.
Zelenskyy's response to crisis
The EU decision came at the end of a tense week for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Initially, he pushed for a draft law that would have limited the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies, prompting sharp criticism from both Ukraine’s civil society and international partners.
Zelenskyy later reversed his stance, introducing a new bill aimed at restoring the independence of the institutions. On July 24, he submitted a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada aimed at strengthening the independence of NABU and SAPO, while also preventing Russian influence on Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies.
The proposed legislation includes a requirement for NABU and other law enforcement personnel with access to classified information to undergo polygraph testing at least once every two years.
While the move helped calm public protests, it did not affect the EU’s decision, which had already been made based on earlier concerns and recommendations.
