G7 names three priorities for judicial, anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine

The G7 Ambassadors’ Support Group for Ukraine has defined the three priorities for Ukraine in the field of judicial and anti-corruption reforms until September 30, 2023.

That’s according to Japan’s chairmanship of the Group, Ukrinform reports.

The first priority in question is the restoration of asset declaration system and political party financing reports.

“Restore the obligation of public officials (except those mobilised and directly involved in war efforts) to submit and disclose their asset declarations during Martial Law; reinstate the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP) verification of asset declarations; ensure public access to asset declarations with relevant security redactions; and reinstate reporting requirements for political party financing, with relevant security redactions,” the Group wrote.

Another priority to be taken into account is “institutional independence and capacity building of the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office and National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine.”

“Enact legislation to improve the selection procedures for the Specialised AntiCorruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) head and key officials, strengthen capacity to regulate its organisational activities, including budgetary and staffing, and establish mechanisms for discipline and accountability of SAPO leadership by introducing a separate disciplinary commission and independent audit commission and aligning functions of the head and the acting head,” the Group noted. “Strengthen institutional independence and capabilities of the National Anti-corruption Agency of Ukraine (NABU) including through legislative and regulatory improvements by increasing the staffing cap and providing adequate financing, providing independent wiretapping capacities, and establishing a forensic examination institution at NABU.”

Priority 3 is “selection of constitutional court judges.”

“Enact and implement legislation on the merit-based and transparent selection of judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, including a pre-selection process based on an evaluation of the integrity and professionalism of candidates in line with Venice Commission recommendations,” the statement says.

As Ukrinform reported, the ambassadors of the Group of Seven nations welcomed the appointment of 16 members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges and expressed hope for a transparent selection of judges in Ukraine.