In its annual report on the implementation of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, published on 25 July, the European Commission considered that the country, over the period 1 December 2020-24 February 2022, i.e. until the Russian invasion, had given priority to the agreement and further integration with the EU.
This period was marked by the pandemic, the conflict in Donbass and Russian provocations, the Commission says.
According to the report, “commendable” efforts have been made to prioritise legislative reforms related to Kyiv’s commitments under the agreement and the necessary coordination between the Office of the President, Government, Parliament and civil society to achieve this, as well as engagement and consultation with international partners.
“Ukraine continued notable reform progress in 2021 in a wide range of areas relating to the Association Agreement, for example in digital transformation, customs and climate action, while reforms in areas such as environmental protection, energy and labour, audio-visual media faced challenges”, the Commission’s report summarises.
According to the latter, the Rule of law and the fight against corruption have remained “justifiably” at the centre of reform efforts and engagement with international partners, including on the critical reform of the judiciary. The report states that the implementation of reform of the High Council of Justice and the High Qualifications Commission of Judges, as well as the draft law on the Reform of the Security Services of Ukraine and the implementing legislation, and the finalisation of the reform of the legal framework for national minorities and the adoption of effective implementation mechanisms, are “litmus tests” for wider reform efforts and for Ukraine’s future progress in its European democratic and strategic orientation.
The report also stresses the need for continued efforts to build and strengthen modern institutions and calls for a continued demonstration of commitment to wider European standards and principles of good governance, for example in relation to the governance of public companies and banks.
The Association Council between the EU and Ukraine will meet on 5 September.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/2ql (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)