Within the framework of implementing NATO recommendations provided in the Strategic Review of the Defence Procurement System (Strategic Review), a meeting of Working Group No. 4 "Accountability" was held. The group's activities are focused on implementing recommendations 13–17 of the Strategic Review, aimed at consolidating legislation and strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability in defence procurement.
Marta Ivashkiv, Head of the Directorate of Integrity Policy Making in the Security and Defence Sector of the NACP, has been designated as the person responsible for coordinating the activities of the Working Group.
The working group comprises international representatives, including NATO Headquarters, the NATO Representation to Ukraine, the Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector (CIDS) at the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), the European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine (EUACI), and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, as well as representatives of parliament and state institutions, including the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
The key result of the meeting was the agreement on draft end-state indicators for the implementation of recommendations Nos. 13–17 of the Strategic Review, for which the NACP has been designated as coordinator. All involved stakeholders, including the NATO side, noted this decision as a significant positive step towards the comprehensive implementation of the aforementioned recommendations.
"The joint agreement on indicators for implementing these NATO recommendations is a practical step towards strengthening accountability in defence procurement. The integration of anti-corruption mechanisms and international best practices allows for the formation of a coordinated approach among all state bodies for the effective implementation of the Strategic Review recommendations," emphasised group coordinator Marta Ivashkiv.
NATO Headquarters representatives Joachim Frandin and Pawel Bucek noted that the coordinated work of the group and the preparation of a unified action plan create a solid foundation for achieving the goals, and the example of effective interaction between the involved parties will be valuable for representatives of other working groups on the path to the final objective of implementing the Strategic Review recommendations.
The Strategic Review is one of the flagship projects of the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, which was developed jointly with experts from NATO member states and approved at the Alliance's Washington Summit in July 2024. The Strategic Review aims to bring Ukraine's defence procurement into line with Euro-Atlantic best practices, as well as to facilitate enhanced cooperation between NATO and Ukraine in the field of defence procurement to increase interoperability.
As a reminder, within the framework of the visit by NATO Headquarters representatives, an inaugural event was held to mark the start of research into corruption risks in the protection of critical infrastructure facilities in the defence and fuel-and-energy sectors and the construction of military engineering and fortification structures. Furthermore, NACP specialists held a working meeting with representatives of NATO and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, during which they discussed further synchronisation of efforts to implement the Strategic Review recommendations.
