{"id":1316811,"date":"2025-11-06T12:50:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/misplaced-optimism-bankova-still-hasnt-understood-the-clear-signals-from-the-european-commission\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T05:17:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T03:17:44","slug":"misplaced-optimism-bankova-still-hasnt-understood-the-clear-signals-from-the-european-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/misplaced-optimism-bankova-still-hasnt-understood-the-clear-signals-from-the-european-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe Speaks, Bankova Pretends to Hear: How Kyiv\u2019s Illusions Threaten Its EU Future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Source: Author&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ivanna.klympushtsintsadze\/posts\/pfbid0nbxwX987eFFyhryfz1oD9kHoxhD4RbQJkXgm8rUCmUsMTwJVMGoL5N9Z7JkJNGjNl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Facebook<\/a> page<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>By now, most Ukrainians have heard government officials celebrate the European Commission\u2019s \u201cpositive\u201d report on Ukraine\u2019s EU accession progress. But behind the triumphant rhetoric from Bankova lies a harsh reality: Brussels\u2019 tone may be polite, yet its message is a warning, not applause.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"296\">Indeed, it is important that, in the midst of a brutal war, the European Commission manages to maintain a delicate balance \u2014 acknowledging Ukraine\u2019s difficult circumstances while keeping its assessment objective and ensuring that Europe\u2019s political and financial support does not lose momentum.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"298\" data-end=\"518\">At the same time, it\u2019s clear that the authorities in Kyiv are not inclined to read between the lines, and few people will take the time to go through the full text of the report. So I will highlight several key points.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"1007\">First, the European Commission appears concerned that Ukraine\u2019s leadership is attempting to implement European integration for a nation of millions during wartime with the help of just five or six \u201cmanagers.\u201d The report explicitly notes that \u201cit is necessary to ensure the active participation of all stakeholders, with an emphasis on cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of government. The government should continue to engage with the public on EU integration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1009\" data-end=\"1183\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">After the shock in July, when the Office of the President attacked NABU and SAPO, Brussels began watching very closely to see whether Bankova would reverse course. It didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\t\t<aside class=\"shortcode-also\" data-title=\"Read also\" >\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/not-a-triumph-but-a-warning-signal-is-ukraine-ready-for-eu-membership-negotiations\/\">Not a triumph, but a warning signal: is Ukraine ready for EU membership negotiations?<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"757\">The European Commission clearly recognizes what is happening \u2014 and says so directly. It notes that <em data-start=\"99\" data-end=\"667\">\u201cthe position of the Prosecutor General remains politicized. The provisions on the automatic closure of criminal cases due to the expiration of pre-trial investigation deadlines after a notice of suspicion, as well as the shortened investigation periods, have led to the closure of several high-profile cases, while others are now at risk. The legislation adopted in July 2025 allows for the transfer and appointment of prosecutors without competition and gives the Prosecutor General access to any pre-trial investigation materials (except those of NABU and SAPO).\u201d<\/em> The EC urges Ukraine to refrain from applying these provisions until they are repealed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"759\" data-end=\"981\">The Commission also notes the deep cynicism of the authorities, who, under the guise of patriotic slogans and wartime necessity, have created comfortable conditions for themselves and their allies to plunder the country.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"983\" data-end=\"1592\">The report puts it bluntly: <em data-start=\"1011\" data-end=\"1590\">\u201cLegislative initiatives presented as protecting business or national security have been registered or adopted, which risk undermining the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, particularly by limiting the transparency of public registers and criminal liability for corruption crimes. Anti-corruption institutions and civil society organizations report increasing pressure from state bodies, including criminal investigations by law enforcement and security agencies. Overall, these developments call into question Ukraine\u2019s commitment to its anti-corruption agenda.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1594\" data-end=\"2068\">Brussels also sees what Zelenskyy has turned the State Bureau of Investigation into \u2014 and effectively calls for a full reboot: <em data-start=\"1721\" data-end=\"2066\">\u201cintroduce transparent and merit-based selection procedures for management positions in the central and regional departments of the National Police of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation, with the participation of independent experts appointed by international partners, as well as strict disciplinary and anti-corruption standards.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2070\" data-end=\"2420\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Finally, the EC expresses deep concern over Ukraine\u2019s growing resistance to the participation of independent experts appointed by international organizations in various selection and verification processes \u2014 including pending constitutional petitions and legislative initiatives that seek to dismantle these \u201cinternationalized\u201d mechanisms altogether.<\/p>\n\t\t<aside class=\"shortcode-also\" data-title=\"Read also\" data-right>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/sabotage-of-european-integration-and-the-kremlins-game-why-bankova-was-so-afraid-of-kudrytsky\/\">Sabotage of European integration and the Kremlin&#8217;s game: why Bankova was so afraid of Kudrytsky<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"516\">Ukraine\u2019s partners have also paid special attention \u2014 and used notably clear language \u2014 to describe the growing pressure on the opposition: <em data-start=\"140\" data-end=\"514\">\u201cSome opposition members of parliament continued to be subject to certain restrictions, particularly regarding travel abroad or asset freezing. For democratic stability, it is important to constantly ensure that the rights of the opposition are respected. No legislative initiatives regulating the rights of the parliamentary opposition have been developed or registered.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"518\" data-end=\"1048\">The European Commission further calls on Ukraine to strengthen a <strong data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"646\">transparent, pluralistic, and independent media environment<\/strong>, ensuring that the restrictions introduced under martial law comply with fundamental rights \u2014 such as freedom of information and freedom of the press. The message is unmistakable: it\u2019s time to end the era of government-controlled broadcasting. As the report puts it, <em data-start=\"914\" data-end=\"1046\">\u201ca review of the need for the telethon as a state-funded format should take place no later than before Ukraine lifts martial law.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1050\" data-end=\"1303\">And this is only a fragment of the serious criticism voiced. The EC also points to systemic weaknesses in <strong data-start=\"1156\" data-end=\"1228\">public administration, public procurement, and local self-government<\/strong> \u2014 areas where reform has either stalled or been replaced with imitation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1305\" data-end=\"1675\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">At this point, the authorities have a choice: they can finally wake up and start real reforms, or they can keep basking in self-congratulatory illusions of \u201cunprecedented progress.\u201d But if the old habit of blaming Europe for Ukraine\u2019s failures prevails once again, the window of opportunity for true integration may quietly close \u2014 long before anyone in Bankova notices.<\/p>\n<p>Also, follow <strong>\u201cPryamyi\u201d<\/strong> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pryamiy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/prm_ua\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/+rtV4dxYu2_cyNjVi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Telegram<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/pryamiy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>\u2022 Materials published in the \u201cOPINIONS\u201d section reflect the opinion of the author of the publication, who bears full responsibility for the accuracy of the information.<\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>\u2022 The editorial staff of prm.ua may not share the opinions expressed in the author&#8217;s material.<\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>\u2022 The owner of the webpage in the \u201cOPINIONS\u201d section is the author of the publication.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Source: Author&#8217;s Facebook page By now, most Ukrainians have heard government officials celebrate the European Commission\u2019s \u201cpositive\u201d report on Ukraine\u2019s EU accession progress. But behind the triumphant rhetoric from Bankova lies a harsh reality: Brussels\u2019 tone may be polite, yet its message is a warning, not applause. Indeed, it is important that, in the midst [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":1316797,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76872,76893,76991,76871],"class_list":["post-1316811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-feed","category-thoughts","category-opinions","category-news-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1316811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1316811"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1316811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1317092,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1316811\/revisions\/1317092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1316797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1316811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1316811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}