On August 19, the Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark, Flemming Møller Mortensen, and the Mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sinkevych, signed a memorandum of understanding, which provides for the implementation of best practices in transparency and accountability in Mykolaiv with a focus on the reconstruction of the city. The EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine (EUACI), funded by the EU, co-funded and implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, will facilitate mitigation of corruption risks in the local government in Mykolaiv.
Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark Flemming Møller Mortensen:
Great to meet mayor Syenkevych of Mykolaiv and to sign the agreement on Mykolaiv as an Integrity City of the Danish-led EUACI program. Even during these very difficult times for Mykolaiv, the mayor is keen on pursuing his vision of developing the city and fighting corruption. This is indeed admirable. Denmark will take the lead in mobilising international support to the reconstruction of Mykolaiv. The values of transparency, integrity and accountability will be important elements in the reconstruction process. The EUACI with its Integrity City concept can play a key role to that end.
Thus, from September 2022, Mykolaiv will start implementing the Integrity City concept. It supposes updating procedures and processes by conducting a sectoral assessment of corruption risks, on the basis of which the Integrity City Plan will be developed and implemented. Priority areas include public procurement, housing policy, communal property management, investment and economic development, etc.
Mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sinkevych:
We are absolutely sure that this memorandum of cooperation will take Mykolaiv to a new level in terms of transparency and accountability. As the mayor, I guarantee full support to the experts of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine. The integrity of our city in the international arena is for us the same priority area as the restoration of infrastructure and the reconstruction of Mykolaiv after the victory of Ukraine.
In addition, the city administration of Mykolaiv, in cooperation with the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative, will improve the city's data management. Priority will be given to data needed for effective planning and monitoring city reconstruction projects. This will provide detailed information on the portfolio of projects, regularly update their status for all stakeholders, and transparent attract additional resources for the city.
Head of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative Allan Pagh Kristensen:
This is an important day for Mykolaiv and for the EUACI. We are looking forward to working with Mykolaiv and to promoting transparency, integrity and accountability. Our engagement is an important signal of support to and belief in the city of Mykolaiv that is suffering from daily Russian missile attacks.
It is also planned to involve citizens in the decision-making process. In particular, when the situation allows, the EUACI will support initiatives of local and national non-governmental organizations that strengthen citizens' ability to participate in city development projects actively.
