On 21 July, the Ukrainian press agency Interfax reported that the EU's ambassador to Ukraine, Hugues Mingarelli, has called for the process of checking the electronic statements of Ukrainian political figures and senior civil servants to be accelerated.
"The process must be greatly accelerated, with hundreds (of checks), if not thousands, per month", Mingarelli told Interfax.
"A swift solution must be found so the national agency for the prevention of corruption can use automated methods for checking electronic statements. Access must be granted to state registers to check the information submitted by public officials", he added.
The ambassador also underlined the need to implement a judicial body – a court or chamber – responsible for fighting corruption. "Guarantees must be set up for this body to be independent both on the budgetary and operational level. It is important for the body to be able to have the necessary authority and resources to fight against corruption, and for the selection of judges specialised in this fight to be made in an open and transparent framework", he said, adding that the EU was ready to help Ukraine.
During the EU-Ukraine summit on 13 July, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker urged Kiev to speed up its anti-corruption endeavours (see EUROPE 11829). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)