The European Commission announced systemic pressure on NABU and SAPO in Ukraine

The European Commission has expressed concern over the ongoing pressure on the NABU and the SAPO in Ukraine. Despite this, the EU believes that Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies continue to work effectively. At the same time, Brussels calls for expanding the powers of the NABU and reforming the SBU.

This was reported by Radio Liberty, citing the September draft of the European Commission’s annual report on Ukraine’s progress on its path to the EU.

The document refers to systematic attempts to influence the independence of NABU and SAPO. In particular, the authors of the report mention criminal proceedings, surveillance of employees of anti-corruption bodies by other law enforcement agencies, as well as information campaigns against their leadership.

The European Commission paid special attention to problems in the work of the NABU. In particular, the bureau still does not have the full ability to independently intercept communications and faces difficulties in obtaining independent forensic expertise.

Brussels also recommends expanding the powers of NABU so that the bureau can investigate corruption among all high-ranking officials, including the leadership of the President’s Office and heads of regional administrations.

In addition, the European Commission drew attention to the interference of other law enforcement agencies in cases that fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the NABU. To address this problem, Ukraine is recommended to introduce additional legal guarantees.

Another recommendation concerns the SAPO. It is proposed that its head be given the right to independently initiate investigations and coordinate investigative actions against people’s deputies without the participation of the Prosecutor General.

Separately, the draft report criticized the lack of noticeable progress in reforming the SBU. The European Commission calls for depriving the special service of its de facto monopoly on interception of communications and focusing its work on national security issues.

Ukraine is also recommended to transfer some of the investigative functions of the SBU to other law enforcement agencies or significantly limit them, as well as to strengthen control over the activities of the special service.

There are also comments on the work of the NACP. The European Commission drew attention to doubts about the agency’s impartiality and effectiveness in certain areas and called for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2023 independent evaluation.

In addition, the EU proposes to expand the list of officials who must submit declarations. In particular, they want to include advisors and assistants to high-ranking officials, as well as top managers of state-owned enterprises.

The European Commission’s official annual report on Ukraine’s progress on its path to the EU is planned to be presented on October 28.