Ukraine’s path to EU membership hinges on anti-corruption and rule-of-law reforms that are primarily for Ukrainians’ benefit, not just to please Brussels, according to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot. As Kyiv struggles to pass reforms under the Kachka-Kos plan, the EU has tied financial support to progress, with annual enlargement reports due in late September or early October expected to assess Ukraine’s performance.
Ukraine urged to accelerate EU-mandated reforms amid funding link
Ukraine must implement EU-required anti-corruption and rule-of-law reforms primarily for its own benefit, not merely to satisfy Brussels, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot told Kyiv officials during an August 18 visit, as the EU links financial support to reform progress under the Kachka-Kos plan.
As reported by The Kyiv Independent, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot stated during a press conference alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha:
“An independent judiciary, solid democratic institutions, bodies effectively able to fight corruption, these are not just reforms designed to please Brussels.”
Prevot emphasised that the changes are
“reforms designed to protect citizens, reinforce trust, and make your country more resilient.”
The remarks come amid months of difficulties for Ukraine in passing rule-of-law reforms in parliament, with Kyiv failing to fulfil even one of the 10 points in the so-called Kachka-Kos plan and potentially backsliding on at least one aspect of judicial reform, according to The Kyiv Independent.
EU ties financial support to reform progress
The European Union in July tied the Kachka-Kos reform plan to the disbursement of financial support, in an apparent bid to refocus Kyiv on tackling corruption and other rule-of-law concerns, as reported by The Kyiv Independent. While Ukraine has so far unlocked only two of the six enlargement clusters — the to-do lists Kyiv must fulfil to fully align with the EU — it was formally provided with the rule-of-law criteria on June 15, according to The Kyiv Independent.
In late September or early October, the EU is expected to publish its annual reports on enlargement, which will provide a sense of how Ukraine is faring against those criteria, The Kyiv Independent noted
High-level EU-Ukraine funding deal signed in July
As reported by Der Standard, the signing ceremony on July 15 at Kyiv’s Mariinsky Palace marked the launch of a new deal that will provide €10bn ($11.5bn) for joint production of drones and long-range missiles. The financing is part of the European Union’s €90bn Ukraine Support Loan, Der Standard noted.
The Baroque stucco of Kyiv’s Mariinsky Palace is aquamarine blue, and the blue folders handed over to Volodymyr Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, were just a few shades darker, Der Standard described.
NABU raids underscore anti-corruption push
The day after Prevot’s remarks, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) raided the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff, among others, according to The Kyiv Independent. The raid underscores the ongoing anti-corruption efforts within Ukraine’s highest offices as the country faces EU pressure to demonstrate tangible progress on rule-of-law reforms.
Belgian FM praises Ukrainian civic engagement
While commending Ukraine’s pursuit of reforms and EU membership during a war, Prevot reminded that the changes required are primarily for the benefit of Ukraine, as reported by The Kyiv Independent. The minister went on to commend young people in Ukraine for their “democratic energy,” and for “holding their institutions to account,” The Kyiv Independent noted.
Reform challenges mount amid wartime pressures
Ukraine’s struggle to pass rule-of-law reforms in parliament comes against the backdrop of ongoing war, with the country balancing military priorities against the need to implement complex judicial and anti-corruption measures required for EU accession. The failure to fulfil even one of the 10 points in the Kachka-Kos plan highlights the scale of the challenge facing Kyiv as it seeks to align with EU standards while defending its territory.
EU enlargement reports to assess Ukraine’s progress
The upcoming EU annual reports on enlargement, expected in late September or early October, will provide a comprehensive assessment of how Ukraine is faring against the rule-of-law criteria formally provided on June 15, according to The Kyiv Independent. These reports will be closely watched by both EU member states and Ukrainian officials as indicators of Kyiv’s commitment to the reform agenda necessary for eventual membership.
Financial incentives drive reform momentum
The EU’s decision to tie the Kachka-Kos reform plan to financial support represents a significant lever to encourage Kyiv to prioritise anti-corruption and rule-of-law measures. With €90bn in Ukraine Support Loan funding at stake, including the €10bn deal for joint production of drones and long-range missiles signed in July, the financial implications of reform progress are substantial for Ukraine’s war effort and economic stability.
International support for Ukraine’s reform journey
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot’s visit to Kyiv and his public statements underscore the international community’s continued support for Ukraine’s EU accession process, even as concerns mount over the pace of reform implementation. The emphasis on reforms being for Ukraine’s own benefit, rather than merely to satisfy Brussels, reflects a diplomatic approach aimed at encouraging domestic ownership of the reform agenda.
