EU Commissioner Marta Kos: Brussels maintains demands to reform NABU and the prosecutor's office

Creation of a working group to accelerate changes

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos announced the establishment of a joint working group. Its aim is to accelerate the rule of law reform processes and strengthen the fight against corruption in Ukraine. This decision was made following negotiations with Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi.

This refers to the implementation of laws included in the so-called Kachka-Kos package. No information has been received indicating that Brussels will postpone its demands regarding the reform of the State Bureau of Investigation and the prosecutor's office.

Financial aid remains linked to reforms

Despite Ukraine's acute need for additional financial resources, the EU maintains the linkage of part of the budgetary assistance to the fulfilment of specific reform tasks.

According to the updated version of the Ukraine Facility plan from July, Ukraine is obliged to complete the NABU reform by the end of 2026. This includes, in particular:

• the introduction of international experts' participation in the selection process for the bureau's leadership;
• the conduct of an independent assessment of NABU's activities.

In addition, the plan includes changes to the prosecutor selection system and disciplinary accountability mechanisms. Failure to fulfil these obligations may lead to delays in the disbursement of certain tranches of European aid, although this does not imply the automatic cessation of all funding.