EU withholds nearly €1.5 billion package for Ukraine due to failures in anti-corruption justice
Ukraine will receive only part of the fourth tranche of financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility mechanism. The reason is the failure to implement three out of sixteen key reforms stipulated in agreements with the EU, says Guillaume Mercier, European Commission spokesperson, European Pravda reports.
The European Commission’s Ukraine Facility is aimed at supporting Ukraine’s state budget, encouraging investment and economic modernization, rebuilding critical infrastructure, supporting civil society, and helping the country to prepare for EU membership.
If Kyiv had implemented all 16 reforms, Ukraine would have received €4.5 billion. But according to Mercier, the European Commission assessed only 13 indicators as fulfilled, and therefore proposes a reduced tranche of €3.05 billion.
Which reforms were not implemented?
The three reforms that remain unfulfilled are:
- decentralization
- reform of ARMA (Asset Recovery and Management Agency),
- transparent selection of judges for the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Ukraine submitted a request to the EU for a partial payment back in June 2025.
The Ukraine Facility program envisions providing Ukraine with up to €50 billion over several years, conditional on the successful implementation of reforms. Each tranche is tied to specific steps.
Read also
-
“I defended Zelenskyy against Trump’s dictatorship accusations. Now I can’t,” says Ukraine’s top corruption fighter
-
EU withholds nearly €1.5 billion package for Ukraine due to failures in anti-corruption justice
-
Zelenskyy’s scandalous law weakening anti-graft watchdogs takes effect (updated)
-
Editorial: Zelenskyy opens a second front—against his own people