Ukraine’s on-going reform process: Progress and challenges since Euromaidan

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details July 2017
Publication Date July 2017
Content Type

On 12-13 July 2017, European Council President, Donald Tusk, Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, will meet in Kyiv for the 19th EU-Ukraine summit. Ukraine's reform process is to feature prominently on the agenda. The ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement by the Dutch Parliament in May 2017, and the commencement of visa-free travel for Ukrainians in June 2017 illustrate the active and visible role the EU has taken in shaping Ukraine's future.

Since the 2014 Euromaidan revolution, Ukraine's reform efforts have made unprecedented progress under difficult circumstances. The country has improved transparency, implemented anti-corruption measures and reduced its dependence on Russian gas. The EU, international institutions, individual countries and Ukrainian civil society actors have all participated in propagating, funding and monitoring these changes.

External leverage and incentives have proved vital in ensuring that the government moves ahead with reforms, but internal challenges still pose a threat to future progress, including the actual implementation of the laws passed. Strong oligarchic influence and a lack of political unity continue to hamper key changes. Significant issues to watch in Ukraine's ongoing reforms include the election of an all-new Supreme Court as well as the creation of a special Anti-Corruption Court.

Author: Naja Bentzen with Jessica Parks

Source Link http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/608632/EPRS_BRI(2017)608632_EN.pdf
Related Links
ESO: Background information: EU Must Be Bolder in Driving Reform in Ukraine (Chatham House: Expert Comment, April 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-must-be-bolder-in-driving-reform-in-ukraine/
ESO: Background information: Testing Times for Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Reforms (Chatham House: Expert Comment, March 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/testing-times-for-ukraines-anti-corruption-reforms/
Carnegie Europe: Article, 08.03.17: Ukraine’s Slow Struggle for Decentralisation (Carnegie Europe, March 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraines-slow-struggle-for-decentralisation/
ESO: Background information: Report on Ukraine's implementation of the Association Agenda [December 2016] http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-report-ukraine-carrying-out-unprecedented-reforms/
ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/
Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 04.09.17: A Reminder to Continue Ukraine Reforms http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/72985?lang=en
Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2017: Has Ukraine changed since Euromaidan? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/185536/has-ukraine-changed-since-euromaidan

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