The European Commission said Friday that Ukraine remains far from EU standards in financial control policies, social and employment policies, and environmental and climate change measures.
This is reflected in the report on approximation to European standards, focused on Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership. This document evaluates the alignment with the acquis communautaire of the candidate country, which was pending publication since Brussels issued its positive opinion on the aspirations of Ukraine and Moldova last June, when it considered the European perspective of Georgia.
Specifically, the Brussels report notes that Kiev is at an «early stage of preparation» to implement European financial control standards and stresses the need to strengthen the role of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine to make its independence explicit in the Constitution, to broaden its mandate and to apply international standards in its audit procedures. «In general, internal audit is not yet well established in Ukraine,» the report summarizes.
Social and employment policies is another point where Ukraine still falls short of European legislation. The EU executive points to «significant shortcomings» in Ukrainian regulations that the authorities need to address and acknowledges that the EU acquis on job security is «limited.» «Undeclared work and wage arrears need to be addressed. Social dialogue also needs to be improved,» he stresses.
It also records little alignment on climate policies and environmental regulation, although in this case the report highlights the «important recent steps» to put together an environmental regulatory framework.
There is also a lack of acquis communautaire on intellectual property rights, freedom of movement of workers, agriculture, rural development and fisheries, according to the report.
SITUATION OF THE JUDICIARY The document of the European Commission reviews the thirty chapters foreseen in the accession process, with aspects that Ukraine must assume as its own before becoming part of the EU. One of the key elements on which Brussels always focuses is the situation of the judiciary and the fight against corruption.
In this matter, the preliminary report on approximation to European standards recognizes that Ukraine has «a certain level of readiness» to implement the set of European standards in the area of justice, freedom and security.
Already in its positive opinion in June, Brussels gave the green light to Ukraine’s candidacy on the basis that it will make progress in judicial independence and the fight against corruption. It recalled then that the independence of all anti-corruption institutions «remains crucial», called for strengthening the «accountability and efficiency of the judiciary», as well as correcting «shortcomings in the functioning of law enforcement institutions».
GOOD ALIGNMENT IN FOREIGN POLICY The report on Ukraine’s situation with regard to the acquis communautaire recognizes that the country is in a good position in several areas, including its alignment with EU foreign, trade and energy policy.
As it is, Ukraine is «well prepared» in foreign policy, with a track record of alignment with EU declarations and decisions and years of active cooperation in addressing cyber threats and disinformation.
This preliminary review also highlights Ukraine’s energy laws and «good level of preparedness» on customs union, underlining that the country is already integrated into the European communication network and uses European transit systems.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
