Joint Statement between Commissioner Marta Kos and Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Taras Kachka

On 11 December 2025, following the informal meeting of Ministers for European Affairs held in Lviv, we reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing Ukraine's accession to the EU, accelerating key reforms, and we underscore the EU's resolute political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support for Ukraine.

Ukraine praises the EU for its decision to disburse the final EUR 4.1 billion tranche under the ERA initiative, as well as the EUR 1.8 billion provided under the Ukraine Facility in November. This support strengthens Ukraine's ability to finance urgent social needs, reinforce national defence, and advance recovery projects.

In this context, we reiterate our strong condemnation of the Russian Federation's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The European Commission remains determined to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace.

We recall that EU enlargement is a geostrategic investment in a strong, stable and united Europe grounded in shared values, and that Ukraine can become an asset to an enlarged and more resilient European Union. In this context, Ukraine's accession to the European Union will enhance the security of the entire continent and serve as a key element of broader security guarantees for Ukraine in the future.

We welcome the completion of the bilateral screening process of all negotiation chapters in an unprecedentedly short timeframe and the Commission's assessment that all 6 clusters are ready to be opened. We look forward to the opening of the clusters, starting with the fundamentals cluster without delay and followed by further clusters. The Council is carrying out work with a view to preparing the next steps.

We reiterate our shared commitment to the principle that the enlargement process should remain strict, fair, and merit-based, reflecting the objective progress achieved. Ukraine's European path remains grounded in a shared commitment to integrity, democratic institutions, and the rule of law. Even in the face of extraordinary challenges stemming from Russia's war of aggression, Ukraine continues to show determination and resilience in advancing reforms that strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust. These efforts are essential to its EU accession process and reflect the country's commitment to meet the obligations of membership.

We welcome the adoption by Ukraine of the roadmaps on the rule of law, on public administration, and on democratic institutions, as well as an action plan on national minorities, all positively assessed by the Commission.

Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to implementing the recommendations of the 2025 enlargement report, particularly in the fundamentals cluster, as well as the roadmaps on rule of law, public administration reform, and the functioning of democratic institutions, together with the action plan on national minorities. Ukraine also underlines that opening the fundamentals cluster is essential for consolidating reforms in these areas.

The European Commission recognises this commitment and will continue to stand with Ukraine, providing support across all areas, from institutional strengthening to effective governance and public administration. Both sides today reaffirmed their determination to sustain and accelerate this progress.

The implementation of anti-corruption and rule of law policies should be carried out within the framework of the EU accession process, in particular through the implementation of the roadmap on the rule of law. Looking ahead, and in line with this framework and the priorities identified by the Member States, Ukraine is taking steps to further prioritise the implementation of the most relevant and effective measures within the coming year, in particular the following:

1. Adopt comprehensive amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and other legislation to ensure fast and high-quality justice, including by

• removing the automatic closure of criminal cases due to the expiry of pre-trial investigation time limits and reviewing the current time limits;
• addressing procedural impediments in criminal proceedings, particularly in high-level corruption cases;
• extending the statute of limitations and strengthening the grounds for their interruption and suspension for corruption and corruption-related offences, in line with European standards;
• strengthening the independence of NABU and SAPO and protecting their jurisdiction from circumvention and undue influence through clear delineation of investigative jurisdiction among pre-trial investigation bodies and robust rules on prevention and settlement of conflicts of jurisdiction in criminal proceedings;
• expanding the jurisdiction of NABUand SAPO to cover all high-risk positions based on the available independent assessment.

2. Ensure that NABU has effective access to impartial, timely and high-quality forensic examinations.

3. Conduct a comprehensive review of the selection and dismissal procedure of the Prosecutor General, with a view to aligning it with European best practice with the involvement of the Venice Commission.

4. Adopt a law, in line with European standards and after consultation with the Venice Commission, to ensure a transparent and merit-based selection process, appointments and transfers for prosecutors to managerial positions and other prosecutorial positions in the Prosecutor General's Office, regional and district prosecutor's offices, including clear criteria and a transparent, competitive, and meritocratic selection procedure that includes an assessment of professional competence and integrity.

5. Reform the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI): Conducting an independent comprehensive review of the SBI's institutional framework, integrity mechanisms, and oversight functions to assess the necessity and feasibility of further reforms in line with best European practices, which would lead to the preparation, adoption, and implementation of a law to accommodate the necessary recommendations.

6. Appoint without delays internationally vetted judges to the Constitutional Court and members of the High Council of Justice.

7. Extend, in close cooperation with the European Commission as regards the modalities, the involvement of international experts in the selection commission for the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ).

8. Adopt the draft law on declarations of integrity of judges clarifying the content of the declarations, expansion of the time period covered, and improvement of the verification procedure; for the Supreme Court, this includes the temporary involvement of internationally nominated independent experts. Adopt legislation aimed at improving the enforcement of court decisions on monetary and non-monetary obligations and digitalisation.

9. Adopt the Anti-Corruption Strategy and the State Anti-Corruption Program by Q2 2026 and ensure high level of implementation.

10. Develop and strengthen internal control systems against high level corruption, including by:

• encouraging the State Audit Service to perform system-wide audit assessments of internal control in the public sector;
• developing a national plan of action to bring internal control and internal audit in line with international standards and good practice;
• embedding corruption risk management in overall organisational risk management and ensuring that tools of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP), such as conflict-of-interest management and whistleblowing facilities, are widely integrated in internal control and internal audit practice of ministries and agencies.

These steps show Ukraine's determination to strengthen its institutions, make substantial progress in the reforms under the Fundamentals Cluster and advance further along its European path. The European Commission reiterates its firm commitment to support Ukraine in these efforts, providing the political, financial, and technical assistance necessary to sustain and accelerate its reform agenda.