On 25 November 2025, the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) convened its Steering Committee Meeting in Kyiv, gathering representatives of the Ukrainian government, anti-corruption institutions, civil society, investigative media, local authorities, and international partners.
The meeting was co-chaired by Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Thomas Lund-Sørensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine, and Gediminas Navickas, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
“We must continue enforcing the anti-corruption framework while also critically evaluating how different elements of the system function. Ensuring balance and safeguarding guarantees across institutions will be a top priority for the Government,”
Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka said.
“We are fully committed to listening to partners, improving the programme where needed, and continuing our support in the years ahead. The EUACI is a strategic partner to Ukraine, but the real results must be produced by anti-corruption bodies, civil society, media, and, not least, the Parliament and Government. We will support every step of the way,”
said Thomas Lund-Sørensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine
“We see Ukraine as a future EU member state. That is precisely why the European Union invests so heavily in anti-corruption — strengthening capacities, ensuring institutional independence, and developing a resilient ecosystem of all the actors involved. We all know the next steps. The government, parliament, civil society, and the media each have a role to play. Today is an important opportunity for us to receive honest feedback on how the EUACI and donors are performing, and what more we can do. The European Union will remain with Ukraine every step of the way in this joint fight against corruption,”
Gediminas Navickas, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, said.
Throughout the year, the EUACI stood alongside its partners, even when they were under great pressure. Anti-corruption institutions faced a difficult operational environment, growing societal expectations, and continued to deliver remarkable results in high-level cases. The EUACI contributed with capacity building and other support aimed at creating stronger and more resilient institutions.
Civil society and independent investigative media faced challenges after the USAID withdrawal from Ukraine. Some also faced different kinds of pressure. The EUACI was praised for providing urgent additional support to civil society partners and to help them adapt, sustain investigations, continue advocacy work, and protect civic engagement during a period of vulnerability.
Integrity efforts expanded across Ukraine. Poltava joined the EUACI Integrity Cities, Chernivtsi was recognised as the most transparent city in the country by Transparency International Ukraine, and Mykolaiv advanced governance reforms and became the most transparent city among frontline cities. The first Supervisory Board of a municipal-owned enterprise based on OECD principles was established in Mykolaiv. A pilot project to minimize corruption risk in the construction of school canteens demonstrated tangible results, including EUR 6.5 million of state funds saved.
Youth, educational, and cultural initiatives empowered the next generation of integrity leaders — from moot courts and anti-corruption schools to media partnerships and creative projects. The EUACI conducted 4 new grant competitions this year, increasing the number of our partners from CSOs and investigative media to 32.
As Ukraine prepares for the next phase of EU integration, anti-corruption reforms remain in the centre. The EUACI will continue standing with Ukraine, strengthening institutions, empowering CSOs, and ensuring that transparency, accountability, and integrity guide the country’s path to the European Union.
“Even though these have been difficult months for many of our partners, they have delivered remarkable results and we have been there to support them and remained strategic partners. We are grateful for the excellent cooperation we have with our donors, the European Union and Denmark. Everything we have presented during our meeting today is the result of the dedication and professionalism of my staff. I couldn’t dream of a better team,”
Allan Pagh Kristensen, Head of the EUACI, said.
