Brussels: The European Union welcomed on Thursday the signing by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of a law aimed at reinforcing the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), describing the move as a positive development in Ukraine's reform path.
According to Kuwait News Agency, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed approval on social media platform X, stating, "President Zelensky's signature on the law restoring NABU and SAPO independence is a welcome step," while underscoring the necessity of continued reforms in the areas of rule of law and anti-corruption for Ukraine's progress on the European path. European Council President Antonio Costa shared a similar sentiment in a separate post on X, emphasizing the importance of Ukraine's ongoing reforms in rule of law and anti-corruption.
The statements come in the wake of the Ukrainian parliament's approval of the legislation, which was submitted by President Zelenskyy. The law aims to strengthen the independence of Ukraine's anti-graft institutions, a move perceived as a direct response to EU demands amid Ukraine's accession discussions.
The EU Commission had previously criticized an earlier parliamentary vote on a draft law that was believed to undermine the independence of anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine. This criticism highlighted concerns over a "serious backsliding" from essential standards of judicial independence, which are seen as fundamental to Ukraine's path toward EU membership.