Ukraine's EU anti-corruption reforms 'are not just' to please Brussels, Belgian FM tells Kyiv
"They are reforms designed to protect citizens, reinforce trust, and make your country more resilient," Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot stated during his visit to Kyiv on August 18 that the EU's anti-corruption and rule of law reforms for Ukraine are primarily in the country's own interest. This comes after months of Ukraine struggling to pass the required reforms and potentially backsliding on some aspects. Prevot emphasized that reforms aimed at creating an independent judiciary, strengthening democratic institutions, and effectively combating corruption are necessary to protect citizens and make Ukraine more resilient.
He praised the democratic energy of young people in Ukraine and their commitment to holding institutions accountable. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) raided the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky's deputy chief of staff and others just a day after Prevot's remarks. The EU linked the Kachka-Kos reform plan to financial support in July, aiming to refocus Ukraine on tackling corruption and rule-of-law issues.
Ukraine has unlocked only two of the six enlargement clusters required for full EU alignment, although it was formally provided with the rule-of-law criteria on June 15. The EU is expected to publish its annual enlargement reports in late September or early October, which will indicate Ukraine's progress against those criteria.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
