European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday urged Ukraine to speed up its anti-corruption reforms and pledged the country’s support for the 27 on the “long road” to EU membership.
In a video conference speech to Ukrainian lawmakers, Ms. von der Leyen praised the reforms that have already been implemented and the institutions that have been put in place to create “an impressive anti-corruption machine”.
“But now these institutions need options for action and the right people in positions of responsibility,” she said.
“It is appropriate that the new head of the prosecutor’s office specializing in anti-corruption and the new director of the Ukrainian national anti-corruption agency be appointed as soon as possible,” said the head of the European executive in particular.
Regarding the project to reform the Constitutional Court, she considered it “necessary to provide for a procedure for the selection of judges by law”.
She welcomed Ukraine’s passage of a law aimed at reversing “the excessive influence of oligarchs on the economy” but called on the country to ensure its “legally-binding implementation”.
Ms von der Leyen also called for the passage of a “media law that will bring Ukrainian legislation into line with European Union standards and give the independent media regulator the necessary tools”.
On 23rd June the heads of state and government of the 27 granted Ukraine EU candidate status.
“The road ahead of you will be long, but Europe will be with you every step of the way, no matter how long it takes, from those dark days of war to the moment you cross the threshold of our European Union,” promised Ursula von the Leyen.