EU Commissioner: Ukraine has broken promises and is moving away from its European aspirations
European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy, Johannes Hahn made a tough statement regarding the failure of the Ukrainian authorities to fulfill their own promises. The text of the statement was published on the European Commission website.
Apparently, the deadline for submission of the asset declarations by civil society activists working in the sphere of counteracting corruption will lapse on April 1. Brussels has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine abolish this obligation but nothing concrete has been done. President Poroshenko proposed a draft law that was criticized by the Venice Commission, and the Verkhovna Rada found no votes to abolish the scandalous norms.
"The Ukrainian authorities have not lived up to their commitments," Hahn stated. "The failure to repeal the extension of this obligation from public officials to civic activists is contrary to Ukraine's European aspirations. It is also contrary to the strong recommendations given by Ukraine's international partners, including the Venice Commission, the OSCE/ODIHR, and the EU (also in the context of monitoring Ukraine's continued implementation of commitments in the visa liberalization process—Ed.),” Hahn added.
The European Commissioner, whose responsibility is Ukraine, recalled that civil society must be able to control the activities of the authorities "without undue obstacles and interference,” and noted that the system of electronic declaring was created to "prevent corruption by public officials.” "Civil society members are not public officials," he added.
"Making additional and unacceptable obligations [on declarations for activists] plays into the hands of those keen to destroy Ukraine's efforts to fight corruption effectively," he believes. The EU Commissioner also reiterated that Ukraine's actions contradict the Association Agreement.
"The EU's relationship with Ukraine is based on common values. Both sides have agreed that respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms constitute the essential elements of the Association Agreement," Hahn stated.
"Ukraine has made remarkable progress over the past years. It is important not to undermine the progress that has been made. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine should revert to the issue and lift asset declaration obligations on civil society activists and limit these to public officials as soon as possible.”