site.btaEuropean Parliament Delegation Visits Ukraine

Ukraine is being subjected to large-scale disinformation campaigns to increase criticism of the country’s management of public funds. This is stated in a message of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control after the end of a two-day visit of a delegation of MEPs to Kyiv.

Support for Ukraine also means support against disinformation, the message said. Attention should be focused on the ability and willingness to genuinely fight corruption, not on denying its existence, the MEPs added in conclusions presented a day after the controversial decisions of the Kyiv authorities relating to restrictions on the independence of anti-corruption services. The European Commission Tuesday expressed concern about the changes undertaken by the Ukrainian Parliament.

The independence of the anti-corruption authorities is key to their success, MEPs said. Respect for the rule of law - a key requirement in the EU accession process and part of the budgetary conditions - is also necessary, MEPs on the parliamentary committee added Wednesday. They insist that the work of the media in the country should be protected from political interference.

The report states that the MEPs had meetings with NGOs, investigative journalists, MPs, ministers and heads of Ukrainian institutions. It specifies that the main purpose of the delegation’s visit was to express sympathy with Ukraine as Russian strikes intensify.

The Ukrainian authorities are cooperating with EU services to improve the way public funds are managed, mutual trust has been built up over the years, MEPs report. They wanted to make sure that reforms in the area of the rule of law and the fight against corruption continue. Ukraine expects that the reforms undertaken will contribute to the progress of the country's EU accession negotiations. The delegation will convey this message in Brussels and will continue to press Ukraine to continue with the reforms in order to justify continued European financial support, the statement added.

MEPs said it was an achievement for Ukraine to continue its efforts to fight corruption in a wartime environment. When scandals break out, it also means that anti-corruption authorities and oversight procedures are working, they say. Now is not the time to look back, the EU must push for reforms, all the more so when other international partners are withdrawing their support, the MEPs from the parliamentary committee delegation urge.