The All-Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Forum "Integrity – the Future of Ukrainian Society" took place in Kyiv, with the participation of leaders of anti-corruption agencies, government structures, international partners, representatives of civil organizations, and local self-government bodies.
During the first panel of the event, the topic of discussions was the vision of the mission of the entities involved in the anti-corruption process and what should serve as a reliable deterrent to corruption. Forum participants recognized the crucial importance of collaboration among all anti-corruption entities, balancing the inevitability of punishment with effective prevention. However, the highest shared priority should be the development of integrity as a reliable guard against corruption risks.
The head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), Oleksandr Klymenko, states that SAPO is ready to take responsibility for the quality of the fight against corruption. "Our mission is to create an absolutely independent institution that will have a balance of independence and responsibility. During our investigations, we see that currently, unfortunately, corruption in many systems is perceived as a norm. In some areas, there are even price lists for various services. I assure you that we will complete all investigations and show results. However, it will not be quick because we must adhere to the standards we set for ourselves and our international partners. We also hope for effective cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada, provided that they provide us with all the tools for effective work," emphasized Oleksandr Klymenko, the head of SAPO.
"Today, it is not enough for courts to simply administer justice. We must meet the highest standards and create new ones. We must be in constant communication with society, government authorities, and international partners. We must be open and transparent. Every court decision must be motivated and understandable. The integrity of judges is a mandatory condition," stated the Head of the High Anti-Corruption Court, Vira Mykhailenko.
According to the Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), Oleksandr Novikov, the key value of every employee of the National Agency is integrity, which should serve as an example not only for public servants but for every citizen. He believes that this will give a powerful impetus to the country's development. "The higher the trust of citizens in the state, the more effective the state is. These concepts are interconnected. What are the historical roots of Ukrainians' distrust in the state? For 300 years, we had a state-enemy, an occupying state that killed Ukrainians and subjected them to famine. Therefore, the natural defensive reaction of every Ukrainian was caution towards the state authorities. But the reality is different now. We have our own state, but not everyone has changed their opinion about it. If, before the full-scale invasion, citizens' trust in the authorities was at 17%, then in the summer of 2022, it reached 61%. This is a high indicator; the average among the most developed countries in the world is 41%. We must maintain and consolidate the level of trust in the state and its institutions. We also need to explain to Ukrainians the value of their own state, the importance of their involvement in state-building, the necessity to trust and control the state," emphasized Oleksandr Novikov, the Head of the NACP. According to him, society must realize that the most effective way to combat corruption is to change rules and culture. This requires a shift in focus in the perception of corruption from punishment to integrity.
During the second panel of the forum, participants also estimated the effectiveness of anti-corruption processes in Ukraine in light of future negotiations regarding EU membership. The EU leaders' summit, scheduled for December 14-15, is expected to determine the prospects of Ukraine's European integration. International partners who participated in the forum emphasized the evident efforts and achievements in the fight against corruption, particularly through digitization, and noted that the future results would significantly impact the outcome of EU membership negotiations.
Ambassador of European Union to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová has reminded the audience that on November 8, the European Commission provided positive and unconditional recommendations for starting accession negotiations with Ukraine. At the same time, she cautioned against excessive expectations, as the European Union has its features of decision-making. "Four steps have been outlined for Ukraine to meet in order to proceed to the next stage in EU integration. I am pleased to note that progress has been made on all four. We are on this path together. However, it is important to realize that the EU is an institution consisting of 27 countries, in which every step in the enlargement process requires unanimity. Therefore, accession negotiations are often a nonlinear process. Ukraine has achieved remarkable results and is progressing rapidly along this path. I hope that a solution will be reached, and the requirements of each member state will be met. We need to stay connected and continue working on reforms in all areas. Ukraine is unequivocally on the path to the EU now, and I am confident it will be in the EU," emphasized Katarína Mathernová .
The All-Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Forum "Integrity – the Future of Ukrainian Society" was organized by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, the European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI), and the USAID SACCI project (Supporting Anti-Corruption and Integrity in Ukraine) and is dedicated to the International Anti-Corruption Day.
