European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on Sunday the EU's support for Ukraine's bid for membership in the union, News.bg reports.
At the same time, she called on President Volodymyr Zelensky to guarantee the independence of the country's key anti-corruption institutions - the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP).
In a post on the X social network after a conversation with Zelensky, von der Leyen said that Ukraine had made significant progress on the path to EU membership, but stressed the need to "preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of the rule of law in Ukraine“.
In a separate publication, the Ukrainian president indicated that the leaders discussed Ukraine's integration into the EU, further sanctions against Russia, and reforms in the country's anti-corruption infrastructure.
He stressed the urgency of adopting a bill aimed at ensuring the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption bodies, stating that it should be adopted “without delay, as early as next week“.
Zelensky also noted the signing of laws on reforming the National Agency of Ukraine for the Detection, Tracing and Management of Assets Obtained from Corruption and Other Crimes.
We recall that the president signed a controversial law that placed NABU and SAP under the control of the Prosecutor General he appointed. This move sparked a wave of public discontent and protests in the country, as well as serious criticism from the European Union, which stressed that preserving the independence of anti-corruption institutions is a key condition for starting membership negotiations.
In response to the sharp reactions, Zelensky announced his intention to introduce a new bill that would “guarantee the strength of the legal system“.
The registration of this project by the deputies is seen as a possible compromise attempt to restore trust both in the country and among Ukraine's international partners.