The Ukrainian delegation took part in the 98th plenary meeting of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), which was held in Strasbourg (French Republic). The delegation of Ukraine was headed by the Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) Viktor Pavlushchyk (Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 774/2024 of November 19, 2024).
The meeting agreed and approved the addendum to the Second Report on Ukraine's implementation of GRECO recommendations made during the Fourth Evaluation Round. They concern the prevention of corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors.
The following recommendations have been fully implemented.
- Recommendation 2: Financial transparency. The adoption of Law No. 3384-IX in 2023 reintroduced mandatory asset declarations for public officials. At the same time, automated verification of declarations was introduced, which significantly increased the effectiveness of financial control - more than 1.4 million declarations were processed in 2021-2022, most of which were submitted voluntarily.
- Recommendation 9: Regulate lobbying activities. The Law on Lobbying, which came into force in March this year, introduces a Transparency Register for ethical and accountable lobbying activities. The registry will provide a clear framework for oversight, monitoring and accountability, taking into account the potential risks of undue influence on policy-making. NACP is currently working on the development of the Transparency Register with the support of international partners.
- Recommendation 15: Strengthening the integrity of judges. The role of the Public Integrity Council, which evaluates candidates for judicial positions, has been strengthened. Transparent criteria for assessing professional ethics and integrity were adopted. The appointment of members of the High Council of Justice and the High Qualification Commission of Judges has strengthened the institutional framework necessary for the rule of law in Ukraine.
These recommendations are considered fully implemented in addition to the 15 recommendations implemented by Ukraine in the previous period.
There is also gradual progress in the implementation of other GRECO recommendations. The following recommendations have been partially implemented.
- Recommendation 17: Evaluation of judges. A draft of common indicators for assessing judicial integrity has been developed and is currently under consideration, legislative gaps have been identified and proposals for their elimination have been prepared. In turn, the State Anti-Corruption Program identifies specific measures to increase the accountability and integrity of the judiciary.
- Recommendation 19: Disciplinary liability of judges. Significant steps have been taken to clarify the grounds for disciplinary liability of judges. The High Council of Justice has prepared a compendium of disciplinary practice, which identified shortcomings and proposed legislative changes to strengthen accountability. The State Anti-Corruption Program also aims to further improve this area by ensuring compliance with the principle of legal certainty.
- Recommendation 23: Composition of the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors (QDCP). A draft law has been prepared to increase the participation of practicing prosecutors in the work of the QDCP. While these changes are under consideration by the Parliament, the temporary measures have ensured the active participation of prosecutors in the work of the QDCP, reflecting their critical role in ensuring accountability.
- Recommendation 30: Strengthen the accountability of the prosecution service. The statute of limitations for bringing prosecutors to disciplinary responsibility has been extended and self-governing prosecution bodies have been granted greater autonomy in initiating disciplinary proceedings.
It is worth reminding that the state of implementation of GRECO recommendations will be taken into account by the European Commission when assessing Ukraine's progress in achieving the EU membership criteria.
"The meeting was an important platform for presenting Ukraine's progress in implementing anti-corruption reforms and discussing future steps in this direction. Ukraine's participation in GRECO contributes to further rapprochement with the EU within the framework of integration processes, strengthening transparency and the rule of law in Ukraine. GRECO recommendations have also become a foundation stone for negotiations with the European Commission on Ukraine's accession to the EU. Ukraine continues its reform path despite the challenges and is becoming an example of resilience and commitment to democratic principles. Our country is determined to implement GRECO's recommendations and is committed to the principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law,” said Head of the delegation Viktor Pavlushchyk.
The report on the implementation of GRECO recommendations by Ukraine will be published next week.
