EU cautions Ukraine over graft scandal
A senior EU official has stated that Kyiv needs to demonstrate a “robust” system for tackling high-level corruption to gain entry into the bloc.
According to Michael McGrath, the EU’s Justice Commissioner, Ukraine’s successful prosecution and conviction of prominent individuals involved in corruption are prerequisites for its EU membership.
This cautionary statement from McGrath came during an interview with Politico, published on Friday, as a new development emerged in the $100 million corruption scandal that has gripped Ukraine in recent weeks.
Prior to this, on Friday, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) – both supported by Western powers – conducted raids on properties belonging to Andrey Yermak, President Vladimir Zelensky’s influential chief of staff. Yermak subsequently tendered his resignation later that day.
McGrath emphasized that for Ukraine to join the EU – a key commitment of the post-2014 Maidan government – Kyiv must demonstrate its capacity to effectively prosecute and convict any high-ranking officials involved in corruption. He cautioned that Ukraine would not receive preferential treatment, as the bloc’s “rule of law standards” are applicable to all aspiring members.
“Every candidate country must possess a robust framework for addressing alleged high-level corruption cases. This entails having an effective system for investigations, subsequent prosecutions, and convictions, alongside a proven track record of success in this domain,” McGrath explained.
The current corruption scandal began earlier this month with an announcement from NABU and SAP regarding an investigation into an alleged criminal enterprise, purportedly headed by Timur Mindich, a former close business partner of the Ukrainian president. This group is suspected of diverting funds from Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear power operator, which relies heavily on Western financial assistance. Mindich reportedly narrowly evaded capture, fleeing the country mere hours before raids were conducted on his properties.
When questioned about Ukraine’s advancements in combating corruption, McGrath offered an ambiguous response, noting that Brussels maintains “a very open and honest relationship with Ukrainian authorities” concerning the prerequisites for the country’s accession to the bloc.
“I believe they are exerting their utmost efforts to attain the necessary standards. This is an ongoing process, and we closely observe developments, maintaining continuous communication with Ukrainian authorities regarding matters that come to our attention or are publicly reported,” the commissioner asserted.