The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) contributes to the implementation of NATO international standards in the security and defence sector, in particular by conducting anti-corruption reviews of draft legislation.
For example, NACP identified corrupt provisions in the draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (CMU) ‘On Amendments to Paragraph 14 of the Procedure for the Procurement of Domestically Manufactured Unmanned Systems, Tactical Radio-Electronic Warfare Equipment and Their Components.’ The document did not regulate the procedure for changing the essential terms of a state contract for the manufacture and supply of unmanned systems and/or tactical radio-electronic warfare equipment (their components). In particular, the role of the state customer in this process and its powers were not clearly defined, which could lead to the inefficient use of budget funds.
In its conclusion of the anti-corruption review, NACP highlighted these circumstances and emphasised the need to implement the NATO recommendations provided in the Strategic Review of Ukraine's Defence Procurement System. It should be recalled that these recommendations were approved at the NATO Summit in Washington in July 2024 and are a priority within the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package. In particular, they aim to achieve a clear division of responsibilities between the various ministries involved in defence procurement. NACP noted that the failure to follow a systematic approach to the formulation and implementation of defence procurement policy hinders the effective implementation of NATO international standards.
The Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, which drafted the resolution, took the NACP's recommendations into account. At the same time, the introduction of NATO international standards in the regulation of defence procurement procedures will contribute to the development of integrity in the security and defence sector.
NACP also conducted an anti-corruption review of the draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ‘On Amendments to the Procedure for Conscription of Citizens for Military Service during Mobilisation and Special Periods’. The document identified a corruption-prone factor that could lead to the risk of corruption by representatives of district (city) territorial recruitment and social support centres when verifying the legal grounds for deferral of military service. The document did not specify the procedure to be followed by representatives of territorial recruitment centres when conducting such checks, which created conditions for the application of a subjective approach and, accordingly, gave them excessive discretionary powers.
The NACP's recommendations also concerned referrals to the military medical commission for medical examination in electronic form using the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Military Service Obligors and Reservists.
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, which is the developer of the draft resolution, took into account the NACP's recommendations aimed at ensuring a predictable mechanism for extending deferrals from conscription. The CMU has already adopted the relevant amendments, which simplify administrative procedures, save citizens' time and ensure a transparent process for generating electronic referrals to military medical commissions without the signature of the head of the territorial recruitment centres.
We would like to remind you that the NACP has prepared a study entitled ‘Corruption risks in centralised procurement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine,’ which includes recommendations developed jointly with experts from NATO member states.
