Ukraine’s Constitutional Court has delivered a serious blow to Ukraine’s anti-corruption architecture that was created in the follow up to Maidan in 2014. Its decisions throughout the autumn have damaged anti-corruption institutions and forced these institutions and the High Anti-Corruption Court to close hundreds of cases under investigation. After the Court’s decision of 27 October that among other things made the e-declaration’s system illegal, the President and Government declared that they would urgently address the issue. It is not the first time the anti-corruption architecture is under attack. But this time seems to be the most serious of its kind.
In this environment, the EU’s Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) takes off in a new phase and with a new structure. Denmark continues to co-finance and implement the program on behalf of the EU.Denmark has enhanced its financial contribution to 59 million DKK, and a senior Danish diplomat, Allan Pagh Kristensen, is now head of the EUACI office with 18 staff members situated in Kyiv.
Commenting on the current developments, the head of EUACI, Allan Pagh Kristensen, says:
“These are difficult times for those working with anti-corruption in Ukraine. The institutions under attack are our partners. They are being attacked by vested interests because they have become quite successful in doing their job. Because, finally, corrupt officials are beginning to receive sentences and send to prison. Now, more than ever, we need the EU and Denmark to support the institutions at the political level and strengthen the policy dialogue with the Ukrainian leadership. And that is happening. It is also about protecting our joint investment. We continue to invest in our partners’ capacity, their staff and their IT. Personally, I am optimistic. Perhaps it is a crisis like this one that is needed for the political leadership to clearly demonstrate its commitment to the fight against corruption. And do so not only in words but in deeds.”
On his vision for EUACI, Allan Pagh Kristensen states:
“This is a very comprehensive anti-corruption program based on a holistic approach to fighting corruption. We are working with all the different actors: The parliamentarians, the government, the independent anti-corruption institutions, the watchdogs (civil society and investigate journalists) and the local authorities. This is our strength together with the strong political backing of the international community. The EU and Denmark cannot and shall not fight corruption in Ukraine, but we can give significant and high-quality support to those forces in Ukraine that are in the forefront of this fight. And perhaps that support will make the difference between their success or their failure”.
