The head of European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM), Kęstutis Lančinskas, said on Wednesday 7 June that he would like Ukraine to continue its reforms and indeed to progress more quickly.
"While there has been much positive development (Ed: over recent years), there are still challenges concerning the political situation", he told EUROPE. Despite many ongoing reforms, Lančinskas believes there are still many things to do – such as recruiting new judges and implementing the law on prosecutors. "I hope there will be a deeper reform on the Prosecutor's Office", he added.
The EUAM has also helped design a sustainable reform strategy for the ministry of the interior. This strategy now needs to be approved by the government. Another ongoing reform, which is taking time, is that on state security services. The international community, particularly EUAM experts and NATO liaison officers, completed a plan which was adopted last November and presented to the president's administration. However, nothing seems to be moving. "When strategic decisions are taken, it takes time for implementation", Lančinskas said.
He also said that the international community was there to help the Ukrainian authorities, but not substitute them. "We are not there to monitor and inspect (what Ukrainians do) but to help them", he said. In Lančinskas' opinion, it is sometimes also difficult for the people to understand the need for reform. He said he hoped the liberalisation of visas, which became effective on Sunday 11 June, would "help Ukrainians be more open and more open to reform. They have a different approach, a different understanding, because they have a different mentality and culture", he said, adding that in the east of the country in particular, Ukrainians live in very close communities and do not travel much – either in Ukraine or abroad.
The EUAM will continue on what it has launched, with its mandate running until the end of May 2019. "We are on the right track. My expectation is that we will be more involved in the reform of the national police, border services and with the ministry of the interior, Lančinskas stated. An example of this is the EUAM is working on extending its project on police training and countering crime to a further 20 police stations. The project began in 20 police stations in May. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)