EU nations urge Ukraine to reconsider law undermining NABU, SAPO independence

France’s Minister for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, stated that the situation regarding the restriction of NABU and SAPO’s independence “can still be saved,” Sky News reports.

“It is not too late to go back on this. We will be extremely vigilant on the subject,” he said. 

The German Foreign Ministry noted that the “independence and strength” of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions have been key to reform efforts of recent years.

They emphasized that Ukraine will continue to be assessed based on its progress in this area.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Foreign Ministry reported that the law No. 12414 adopted by the Verkhovna Rada raises “serious concerns” about the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions.

“Ukraine has made important progress fighting corruption in the past decade – staying the course is essential. Sweden remains a strong partner for reform in Ukraine,” they stressed.

The head of the Netherlands’ Foreign Ministry, Caspar Veldkamp, noted that Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions are vital to its reform path.

According to him, restricting the activities of these institutions would be “a significant setback.”

“Safeguarding the independence of these institutions and continued progress on the rule of law remain key for Ukraine’s EU accession process,” Veldkamp added.

• On July 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill passed by the Verkhovna Rada that includes provisions limiting the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), placing their activities under the authority of the Prosecutor General.