The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denis Shmigal, has assured that the Government’s latest anti-corruption measures have meant taking «difficult personal decisions» but fundamental for the country’s aspirations to join the European Union (EU).
«When accusations appear in the media, they must be investigated by the authorities and, if they are confirmed, we take difficult personal decisions,» Shmigal has told in an interview for the German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski announced the dismissal of a dozen high-ranking officials, as well as a series of raids that have continued this week in several public bodies, such as the Ministry of Finance, for alleged bribery.
Shmigal has explained that on the occasion of the war many of the rules were eliminated to facilitate, among other things, the contracting of services, which, «unfortunately», has been used by some to «take advantage».
In this sense, he assured that it is necessary today «to return to the procedures and security measures prior to the war» if we want to advance in the aspirations of joining the European Union, which demands an effective fight against this type of crime as a prerequisite to be part of the group.
On the occasion of this Friday’s Ukraine-EU summit in Kiev, Shmigal said that they are confident that the deadlines for joining the European Union can be brought forward from the «five, seven, ten years» that the accession negotiation takes to two years. «Our goal is to be ready for membership in 2024.»
Thus, the Ukrainian prime minister assured that the government has done everything possible to implement the seven requirements imposed by Brussels before this summit, the first since the Russian invasion began, and trusts that its European partners will check that they have «zero tolerance» for corruption.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
