A new report by the European External Action Service (EEAS) recognises progress on Ukrainian reform but highlights the need for further work.
The EEAS’s ‘Association Implementation Report on Ukraine 2019’, released as the new Ukrainian President, parliament and government have all announced their intention to continue to implement the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, examines the progress of reform measures deployed under the Association Agreement since November 2018. The report details a number of fields in which significant progress has been made in implementing reforms, including:
- The establishment of Ukraine’s new High Anticorruption Court;
- The unbundling of Ukrainian oil and gas company Naftogaz, which has historically been seen as one of Ukraine’s most prolific sources of corruption and which was recently tied to the impeachment proceedings against President of the USA Donald Trump; and
- Economic and sectoral reforms in fields including budget oversight, market deregulation and public procurement.
Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: “The Association Agreement continues to bring the European Union and Ukraine closer together. Thanks to this agreement, the European Union has become Ukraine’s main trading partner, and since the EU introduced visa-free travel to the European Union for Ukrainian citizens two years ago, they have made over three million visits. That Ukraine is undertaking such substantial and important reforms at the same time as its independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty are being challenged is all the more impressive. Ukraine can continue to count on the EU’s support.”
The Association Implementation Report noted that there remains room for improvement in a number of areas of Ukrainian reform:
- Market structure in the energy sector in particular remains ‘oligopolistic’ and open to corruption;
- Reforms to intellectual property legislation are progressing at a slow rate; and
- The report calls for stricter enforcement of the rule of law and concerted action to combat corruption throughout Ukraine.
Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for the Neighbourhood and Enlargement, said: “The Ukrainian authorities have made progress with reforms over the past year, notably in areas that will help to create the foundations for future growth and prosperity for Ukrainian citizens. Many newly adopted laws now await implementation, and the European Union will continue to be there to accompany this process. At the same time, it is important to implement the reforms in line with the shared common values of democracy, rule of law, respect for international law and human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.”
