The weakening of anti-corruption institutions threatens Ukraine’s economic stability and reputation as a reliable partner.
To the President of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky
Regarding Law No. 4555-IX and restrictions on the independence
of the anti-corruption agencies NABU and SAP
Dear Volodymyr Oleksandrovych!
The Ukrainian Business Council (UBC), an association of business associations created to consolidate business and implement socially important reforms for the sustainable economic development of the country, comprising 124 business associations with 27,000 member companies from various sectors of the economy, expresses its respect to you and addresses the following:
Since the Revolution of Dignity, the fight against corruption and ensuring the rule of law have been and remain key demands of society on the authorities. It was the anti-corruption reforms implemented over the past 10 years that confirmed Ukraine’s choice of a European vector and were a key factor in the accelerated European integration process (obtaining candidate status, opening accession negotiations, adopting a negotiating framework, and starting negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU).
The amendments introduced by Law No. 4555-IX (Draft Law No. 12414), which restrict the independence of the anti-corruption bodies NABU and SAPO, threaten to derail anti-corruption reform and undermine the trust of Ukraine’s key allies, civil society, international partners, and investors.
The adopted amendments to the legislation do not comply with Ukraine’s obligations to the EU, European standards of the rule of law, and the principles of EU Directive 2017/1371 and EU Regulation 2020/2092, which require effective and independent prosecution of corruption offenses, especially those involving EU funds. This creates the risk of freezing macro-financial assistance, slowing down EU accession negotiations, and losing the trust of international partners and investors.
The business community, which operates in conditions of war and reconstruction, is critically dependent on the predictability of the legal environment, the rule of law, and the support of international financial organizations. The weakening of anti-corruption institutions threatens Ukraine’s economic stability and reputation as a reliable partner.
Ukrainian businesses urge you to take all necessary measures to restore the independent status of anti-corruption bodies (NABU and SAP) — to initiate an urgent review of Law No. 4555-IX and make changes that will restore the real institutional independence of NABU and SAP, as well as to take measures for the proper implementation of the BEB reform as soon as possible, in accordance with Law No. 3840-IX.
Sincerely,
Business Associations,
Members of the Ukrainian Business Council
