Technical assistance in fighting corruption by the EU and Denmark in Ukraine
The European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative, EUACI, is the largest program of technical assistance in fighting corruption in Ukraine implemented by the European Union.
The program was established in June 2017 and was expected to run for three years (2017–2019). It was mainly funded by the European Commission and co-funded by Danish International Development Agency. In 2021, the European Court of Auditors found the EU support for reforms in Ukraine to be ineffective in fighting grand corruption.
Mission and Aims.
The European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative EUACI in Ukraine was created to strengthen the capability of the anti-corruption institutions and increasing parliamentary, civic society and media control over the reforms in Ukraine.
The aims of the program were as follows:
Funding.
The overall budget of the program was 15.84 million euros. The immediate executor of the program representing the Kingdom of Denmark was DANIDA. The project was implemented as international technical aid, according to Contract No 3582–01 from 15 March 2017, under the Framework Agreement between Ukraine and European Commission (ratified together with the notice under the Law 360–VI (360–17) from 3 September 2008). It became the first large scale project aimed at fighting corruption.
Implementation.
The program was expected to be implemented over a period of 3 years, between 15 December 2016 – 14 December 2019. It comprised three сomponents:
Component 1 Support of state agencies.
EUACI provided consultative, organisational and financial assistance to the special anti-corruption institutions in the following 8 projects:
This analysis includes identification of problems and development of measures allowing to make necessary improvements in the business processes used for the tax declaration evaluation. The project was delivered together with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (in October 2017).
Component 2 assistance to Ukrainian parliament.
Implemented projects:
The IACAB was created on 8 September 2017 as a result of the a Letter of Intent being signed between the Verkhovna Rada Anti-Corruption Committee and EUACI.
It consists of the following members: Carlos Castresana, Anca Jurma, Giovanni Kessler, Drago Kos, Jesper Hjortenberg, Daniel Thelesklaf.
IACAB professionals perform analysis of anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine in the areas of investigation, criminal persecution and court consideration of high-profile corruption cases. The experts create reports based on the results of their analysis and provide recommendations to improve the efficiency of Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions.
Component 3 assisting local government, civil society, and media.
Implemented projects:
In a number of selected cities the analysis of corruption risks will be performed, the ways of their elimination will be identified, and anti-corruption tools will be created and implemented. The agreement has been reached and a letter of intent has been signed for cooperation with Chernivtsi.
On 1 June 2018, the Corruption Park hosted by the EUACI was opened in Kyiv. This is the first project of this kind in Ukraine. The aim of the Corruption Park is to expand knowledge about corruption as a mischief, to youth and children mainly.
It is an interactive park that uses images, virtual reality, 3D technologies, touchscreens and installations to explain not only what corruption is but also what is done to eradicate it in Ukraine.
The park comprises nine inflatable tents, total square is 700 sq. m. Each tent exhibits the various aspects of the top corruption and shows its influence on the lives of regular people.
Additionally, an anti-lecture hall works here, film screenings and activities for children take place.
Team.
As of 2018, EUACI included both Ukrainian and foreign professionals:
A Steering Committee was established in order to enable common decision making for implementation of anti-corruption initiatives between the Kingdom of Denmark, EU mission in Ukraine and main institutional beneficiaries.
As of 2018, the members of the Steering Committee of the Anti-Corruption Initiative of the European Union in Ukraine were as follows:
References.
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