Zelenskyy enacts legislation guaranteeing independence for anti-corruption entities
Ukraine Restores Independence of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Bid to Strengthen EU Ties
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed new legislation that restores the independence of Ukraine's key anti-corruption agencies—the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). This move is significant as it reverses a previous law viewed as limiting these agencies' powers, which had sparked large domestic protests and drawn strong criticism from the European Union (EU).
The legislation's significance lies in several key areas:
- Anti-corruption effectiveness: Restoring independence guarantees that the anti-corruption bodies can operate without political interference, which is crucial for Ukraine's efforts to fight entrenched corruption and Russian influence within these institutions.
- Domestic legitimacy: The legislative reversal responded to widespread public outcry, including protests despite ongoing Russian military attacks, showcasing strong citizen demand for transparent, accountable governance.
- EU membership aspirations: The EU has made clear that a robust, independent anti-corruption framework is a vital condition for Ukraine's EU accession. By restoring these agencies' autonomy, Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to reforms necessary for integration with European structures and safeguards against Russian aggression.
- International support: The European Commission welcomed the change, emphasizing that maintaining and deepening these reforms remains critical for Ukraine's path to EU membership and rule of law standards.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated that the result of the parliament vote was a clear response to the expectations of society and their European partners. Anastasiia, one of the demonstrators, stated that it was important that anti-corruption agencies were not in the "pocket" of government officials. President Zelenskyy also emphasized that it is important for the state to listen to public opinion and hear its citizens, implying a response to those who had demanded the changes.
Critics had protested against the earlier law, fearing it could facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes. The changes to the law were approved by Ukrainian lawmakers and the anti-corruption bodies in advance. President Zelenskyy announced on social media that he had approved the bill, stating that it guarantees the absence of any external influence or interference.
As Ukraine moves forward with this significant step, new Russia-Ukraine talks are set for Wednesday, as announced by President Zelenskyy. Mercier, the European Commission spokesman, cautioned that "this is not the end of the process" in Ukraine's bid to join the EU, emphasizing that Ukraine's accession will require continuous efforts to guarantee a strong capacity to combat corruption and to respect rule of law.
- The recent policy-and-legislation changes in Ukraine, which restored the independence of anti-corruption agencies, are a crucial step in their politics as they address widespread public concerns about corruption and respond to both domestic demands and the EU's conditions for membership.
- The restoration of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies' independence, as part of policy-and-legislation, is significant for general-news headlines, not only because of its impact on Ukraine's internal governance and EU ties but also due to its international implications, including the EU's expectation for a strong capacity to combat corruption and adhere to rule of law.
