Ukraine May Have Prosperous Future If Continues Anti-Corruption Reforms

Ukraine may have a prosperous future if continues the ongoing reforms on fighting corruption, the Embassy of Canada, the US Embassy and the EU Delegation to Ukraine said on Friday in a joint statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ukraine has already made significant progress in fighting corruption, in particular via "the adoption of constitutional amendments on the judiciary and of anti-corruption legislation, the establishment of specialized anti-corruption bodies, and the successful launch of the electronic asset declaration system," according to the joint statement.

"Ukraine now stands at the crossroads between a prosperous future based on the rule of law or a path of continued corruption that has been a major hurdle in the socio-economic development of the country since its independence," the statement, published at the European External Action Service (EEAS) website, said.

The sides called on Ukrainian authorities to establish the High Anti-corruption Court and complete the establishment of the new Asset Recovery and Management Office (AMRO), as well as of State Bureau of Investigations (SBI).

"We also look to Ukrainian authorities to ensure the independence and adequate resourcing of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the Specialised Anti-corruption Prosecutor Office (SAPO), and the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC). It is vital that the competencies and powers of these specialized bodies are fully respected by all state institutions," the statement added.

The Embassy of Canada, the US Embassy and the EU Delegation to Ukraine also promised to further support Ukraine on its anti-corruption efforts.