“The president of the European Commission was in contact with President Zelenskyy about these latest developments,” Guillaume Mercier, European Commission spokesperson, told POLITICO. “President von der Leyen conveyed her strong concerns about the consequences of the amendments, and she requested the Ukrainian government for explanations. “The respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption […]
Menej ako 1 min. min.
“The president of the European Commission was in contact with President Zelenskyy about these latest developments,” Guillaume Mercier, European Commission spokesperson, told POLITICO. “President von der Leyen conveyed her strong concerns about the consequences of the amendments, and she requested the Ukrainian government for explanations.
“The respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are core elements of the European Union. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to uphold these standards fully. There cannot be a compromise,” Mercier added.
European Council President António Costa also expressed his concern to Zelenskyy and asked for explanations, an EU official told POLITICO, after being granted anonymity to describe a private call.
‘Serious questions’
In Brussels, EU officials have been actively attempting to push Ukraine forward in its accession bid despite Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s vigorous opposition. Now, Ukraine’s progress risks stalling further, as even its close allies remind Kyiv that rule-of-law and anti-corruption reforms are essential prerequisites to EU membership that cannot be compromised.
In an explicit warning, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X on Wednesday that “limiting the independence of anti-corruption agencies hampers Ukraine’s way towards the EU.”
Zelenskyy’s law placed Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) under the authority of the prosecutor general, which, agencies said, effectively destroys their independence.
