Ukrainian Parliament greenlights essential bills for EU integration
The Rada has given the green light to the draft laws on NABU and NACP (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy has recommended that the parliament pass two important anti-corruption bills in the second reading. They are necessary for Ukraine's accession to the EU, according to Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative in the Verkhovna Rada.
The Rada Committee gave the green light for the adoption in the second reading of Bill No. 10203-1 On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.
The draft law proposes to increase the number of NABU staff from 700 to 1,000, including an increase in the number of senior staff from 500 to 750.
Given the limited funding opportunities during martial law, this will be implemented gradually. Thus, from 2024 to 2026, the NABU will be increased by 100 positions annually.
Earlier it was reported that UAH 1.7 billion is planned to be allocated for this project for 3 years.
In addition, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy recommended draft law No. 10262 on lifting restrictions on the powers of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention for the second reading.
Adopted in the first reading, the draft law allows the NACP to check property acquired before public service.
The European Commission, in its report on the assessment of Ukraine's European integration efforts, drew attention to the need to lift restrictions on the NACP's powers. This means continuing to verify assets that have already passed the verification process.
Adoption of European integration bills
On November 14, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft laws that are a prerequisite for the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. These are the following:
- on increasing the number of NABU employees;
- to exclude certain provisions from the law on corruption prevention that reduce the effectiveness of the asset declaration mechanism.
On November 21, the Verkhovna Rada adopted these draft laws in the first reading.
On November 8, the European Commission recommended that the EU Council start accession negotiations with Ukraine. According to Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine has already implemented 90% of the reforms expected by the EU. However, Kyiv should continue to implement reforms.
