Ukraine names steps it is obliged to take before getting EU candidate status

Head of the Office of Ukraine’s President Andriy Yermak has said that before negotiations on accession to the European Union start, Ukraine must fulfill several conditions, including the strengthening of the fight against corruption and oligarchs, as well as the reform of law enforcement agencies and courts.

Yermak noted that before starting accession negotiations, Ukraine must adopt and implement legislation on the procedure for selecting judges of the Constitutional Court, according to RBC-Ukraine.

The process should include a pre-selection based on an assessment of integrity and professional skills, in compliance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

Also, the condition is the completion of the verification of the integrity of candidates for members of the High Council of Justice and the selection of candidates for the High Qualifications Commission of Judges of Ukraine.

In addition, key steps Ukraine should take are as follows: strengthening the anti-corruption measures, completing the selection and appointment of a new director to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the prosecutor of the SAPO; ensuring that anti-money laundering legislation is in line with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards; adoption of a comprehensive strategic plan for reforming the entire law enforcement sector; should earn an "anti-oligarchic" law; media legislation should be brought into line with European audiovisual legislation; completion of the reform of the legislative framework for national minorities and develop mechanisms for its implementation.

On June 17, the European Commission officially proposed to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership.