Ukraine parliament fails to approve visa-free regime bills

Ukraine’s parliament approved on Nov. 5 only two of 13 bills required for achieving a visa-free regime with the EU in 2016. Among the bills that failed to be approved was the creation of a national agency on recovering assets gained by corruption, as well as a law enabling the arrest of property in order to deter corruption in its use. Parliament also rejected to review a bill that would amend the Labor Code to forbid discrimination based on political, religious and sexual orientation, as well as race.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko reportedly agreed to replace his four prosecutor nominees to a commission that’s responsible for establishing a Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, also a visa-free regime requirement. The agreement was reportedly reached during a Nov. 3 telephone conversation Poroshenko had with Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the pravda.com.ua news site reported. 

Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin was criticized by Western officials for resisting recommendations to replace the appointments, even threatening criminal charges against foreign ministry officials for recommending the replacements. The establishment of an independent specialized prosecutor’s office is also needed to launch the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, both of which need to be functioning by the year end, according to the EU’s demands.

Zenon Zawada: The EU is using a visa-free regime as a carrot on a stick for the Ukrainian government, particularly the president, to approve measures that it abhors, such as the creation of independent anti-corruption agencies. The tactic is very effective as the president faces embarrassment and the further loss of what little public support remains if he fails to provide the leadership to approve these bills and gain the 2016 visa-free regime. With enough EU and civil society pressure, we believe the parliament will approve the necessary legislation, if only for the fact that is has to in order to avoid exacerbating public discontent.