**Ukraine’s Parliament Passes Landmark Reform, Unlocking EU Funds**
In a significant step towards European integration, Ukraine’s parliament has passed a reform of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) on June 18. This legislation was a key condition listed in the EU’s Ukraine Facility plan, which provides 50 billion euros ($58 billion) in multi-year financial support to Ukraine contingent on reforms.
The ARMA is Ukraine’s national agency responsible for locating, recovering, and managing assets seized during criminal proceedings, particularly in corruption cases. The proposed reforms aim to strengthen integrity and qualification standards for leadership candidates, introduce merit-based hiring through open competitions involving civil society, and ensure independent external audits.
**A Long-Overdue Reform**
The reform was met with broad support from lawmakers, with 253 lawmakers voting in favor of the legislation. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak noted that the passage of the bill “unblocks 600 million euros ($690 million) in EU funds” after months of obstruction.
However, the ARMA had long criticized the proposed legislation, arguing that it had already carried out substantial reforms since 2023. Transparency International in Ukraine also expressed concerns, stating that the ARMA’s primary concern seemed to be ensuring its current leadership could continue operating as usual, rather than introducing meaningful reforms.
**A Critical Step Towards EU Integration**
Ukraine has been embarking on extensive reforms as part of its efforts to join the EU and other Western structures. The passage of this reform is a critical step towards achieving this goal, despite the challenges presented by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
As the country continues on its path towards European integration, it remains to be seen whether this reform will have a lasting impact on Ukraine’s fight against corruption and its efforts to join the EU. One thing is certain: the passage of this legislation marks an important milestone in Ukraine’s journey towards greater transparency, accountability, and cooperation with Western partners.
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