Ukraine's recently enacted anti-corruption legislation casting doubts on its European Union membership prospects
In a move that has raised concerns among European partners and threatened Ukraine's bid for European Union (EU) membership, the Ukrainian parliament passed a new law on July 22, 2025, that significantly undermines the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
The legislation grants extensive powers to the Prosecutor General, placing these agencies under their direct oversight, and allowing the Prosecutor General to select cases and reassign them to other state entities. This move has been criticised as a potential threat to the agencies' autonomy and a step backwards in Ukraine's anti-corruption progress.
The EU and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have expressed strong concern over the new law. The European Commission emphasised that Ukraine’s financial support and integration efforts are tied to progress in judicial reform, transparency, and democratic governance, all of which are threatened by this law. The OECD highlighted that undermining these agencies "damages Ukraine’s credibility among international partners," directly impacting its standing in European institutions and hampering investment crucial for reconstruction efforts, especially in the defence sector.
Following nationwide protests and criticism from European allies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted a new draft bill on July 24 aiming to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO. This move was welcomed by the agencies themselves as it would restore their procedural powers and independence needed to effectively fight corruption. Zelenskyy framed the original law as intended to prevent Russian influence but acknowledged the need to guarantee independence and prevent interference, responding to public outrage and EU concerns.
Transparency International has consistently ranked Ukraine among Europe's worst performers on corruption, with corruption detected in elections, the judiciary, the public administration, the education system, and the business sector. The fight against corruption is pivotal to Ukraine's accession and is ingrained in the commitments Ukraine made to the European Commission as a condition for receiving gradual payments under a dedicated €50 billion fund.
The dispute over the anti-corruption legislation could prompt a change of mindset regarding decoupling Ukraine's and Moldova's bids for EU membership. Amanda Paula, a senior policy analyst at the European Policy Centre, believes it would be unfair to hold back Moldova because of developments in Ukraine, suggesting a potential uncoupling of the bids.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called Zelenskyy and demanded explanations about the contentious legislation. The Commission came forcefully to Kyiv's defence, arguing there were no objective reasons to block the first cluster of accession negotiations. Brussels has encouraged Ukraine to continue its efforts, which are essential to convince international donors and investors to bring capital into the nation.
The latest enlargement report found that Ukraine had improved its anti-corruption framework and strengthened the independence of NABU and SAPO. However, this progress has been jeopardised by the new law, leading to concerns that Ukraine's EU accession ambitions may be in jeopardy. The leadership's agreement to launch talks in December 2023, despite Kyiv having made only partial progress on anti-corruption, de-oligarchisation, and the rights of minorities, further fuels these concerns.
In conclusion, the passing of the original law in July 2025 has significantly damaged Ukraine's credibility and its prospects for joining the EU. The government’s subsequent attempt to repeal or amend the law reflects recognition of this impact and the importance of maintaining credible, independent anti-corruption institutions to satisfy EU conditions for membership.
The controversy surrounding the new law in Ukraine has raised concerns in the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, as it threatens Ukraine's EU membership prospects due to its impact on the country's anti-corruption progress. This law, criticized by the EU and OECD, has the potential to hamper general-news like investment, reconstruction, and international partnerships.
The subsequent draft bill aimed at restoring the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is crucial for Ukraine's career-development and education-and-self-development, as it strengthens the fight against corruption and satisfies EU requirements, which are vital for securing financial support and integration efforts.
