{"id":550319,"date":"2025-11-05T08:45:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T08:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/550319\/"},"modified":"2025-11-05T08:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T08:45:19","slug":"bne-intellinews-ukraine-gets-a-b-grade-from-eu-good-but-more-work-needed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/550319\/","title":{"rendered":"bne IntelliNews – Ukraine gets a B grade from EU: good, but more work needed"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected a two-tier solution proposed by Brussels to accelerate Ukraine\u2019s EU accession bid<\/a>, after the European Commission (EC) released a progress report<\/a> on November 4.<\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s bid is being blocked by Hungary, but adding to the obstacles, the democratic backsliding by Georgia, an accession candidate peer, led the EC to suggest there should be a probation period for any new member of several years to ensure authoritarian governments don\u2019t take over.<\/p>\n

Zelenskiy rejected the idea out of hand saying Ukraine will not accept a second-tier status and must be treated as a full member of the bloc as soon as it is accepted as a member.<\/p>\n

“If we speak about the EU membership, it has to be fully fledged (\u2026) you cannot be semi-or demi-member of the European Union,” Zelenskiy said at an Euronews enlargement summit. “It seems to me that it is very important that we have at the same table equal countries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskiy also dismissed the idea of offering concessions to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n in exchange for lifting Budapest’s veto to Ukraine’s EU bid.<\/p>\n

“I’m not sure that Ukraine has to bargain with its own values (\u2026) I don’t think that I have to offer something to Viktor Orb\u00e1n. I think that (he) has to offer something for Ukraine, which is protecting the whole of Europe from Russia,” he said.<\/p>\n

The report also assessed the other accession candidates, including Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo. Turkey and Georgia are also under review, though accession processes for both remain stalled due to democratic and rule-of-law deficits.<\/p>\n

Remarkable progress\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ukraine has shown “remarkable commitment” to its bid for EU membership despite Russia’s full-scale war, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said presenting the EU assessment report, but went on to add veiled criticism, saying Kyiv needs to do more in its fight against corruption and reforming the judiciary.<\/p>\n

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos the screening process of the legislation of Ukraine and Moldova for compliance with Europe\u2019s was complete, which clears the way to open formal clusters negotiations by the end of November.<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian government has informed the EU that it intends to complete accession talks by the end of 2028. Kos added that Ukraine\u2019s ambition to become a member by 2028 was \u201cambitious\u201d but \u201cpossible.\u201d EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that 2030 was a more realistic accession deadline.<\/p>\n

“The screening process with Moldova and Ukraine has been completed, and the Commission will continue its work so that the [European Council] can open all the clusters by the end of November, and I very much hope that this will happen,” Kos said in a speech<\/a> to the European parliament.<\/p>\n

However, Kos also raised red flags, saying the enlargement policy is based on merit. She went out of her way to praise pro-EU reforms in Moldova, Albania and Montenegro, which is the most advanced of the candidates in the West Balkans.<\/p>\n

Kos praised Moldova as having made the \u201cmost progress\u201d toward EU membership over the past year thanks to reforms carried out at an \u201caccelerated speed \u2026 despite the continuous hybrid threats and attempts to destabilize the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

“So, when we say that if the member states are fulfilling their obligations, and I can really prove, because I have evidence in this report, that they are fulfilling their obligations, then the EU must also fulfil its obligations,” Kos said.<\/p>\n

\u2026 but more to do<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ukraine has been downgraded from an \u201cA+\u201d EU candidate to a \u201cB\u201d rating in the latest progress report on required reforms. Georgia got an \u201cF\u201d and is now a candidate \u201cin name only\u201d according to Kos after significant backsliding over the last year. In particular, Brussels has objected to Tbilisi\u2019s decision to pass a Russia-inspired \u201cforeign agents law\u201d last year, which has only added to the popular dissent that has seen non-stop protests in the Georgian capital for the last year.<\/p>\n

Ukraine has been doing much better, but also fell down on its fight against corruption and the lack of effort to push through judicial reforms.<\/p>\n

Zelenskiy caused a scandal by forcing through Law 21414<\/a> in July that gutted the anti-corruption reforms by placing the two main independent organs \u2013 National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office (SAPO) \u2013 directly under the control of the General Prosecutor, a presidential appointee.<\/p>\n

That immediately sparked the first anti-government protests in Ukraine since the war began and sharp rebukes from Brussels forcing Bankova to rapidly backpaddle. A second law was pushed through shortly afterwards undoing the Law 21414 changes and reasserting the independence of the two anti-corruption bodies.<\/p>\n

However, since then, there have been a string of reports that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), also under the president\u2019s direct control, continues to harass the members of NABU with inspections and investigations. NABU has reportedly been conducting corruption investigations into members of Zelenskiy\u2019s inner circle, but has not brought any charges.<\/p>\n

At the same time, very little progress has been made on reforming Ukraine\u2019s notoriously corrupt judicial service, which has been a problem for most of Ukraine\u2019s three decades of independence. Investors that have spoken with bne IntelliNews have said they remain very reluctant to invest into Ukraine until the situation with ensuring property rights improves<\/p>\n

Zelenskiy vigorously defended his record, pointing out that Ukraine has made significant progress on reforms, despite the distraction of simultaneously fighting a war against Russia.<\/p>\n

“During the war, we implemented the widest anti-corruption infrastructure in Europe. I don’t know any country that has so many authorities,” Zelensky insisted, speaking by video from Pokrovsk on the frontlines, which is under attack by the Armed Forces of Russia<\/a> (AFR). “We’re doing everything possible.”<\/p>\n

Despite the problems, von der Leyen remains very keen to accelerate Ukraine\u2019s admission. The EC noted that Ukraine is \u201cconsistently implementing legislation in line with EU standards\u201d. It also confirmed the country\u2019s readiness to open three negotiation clusters \u2014 the first, second, and sixth (Fundamentals, Internal Market, and External Relations), the first of which remains amongst the most problematic in the talks as it deals with entrenched corruption and the weak judicial independence.<\/p>\n

Bankova had been hoping to start the cluster negotiations on July 15, but Hungary\u2019s veto made that impossible and the start of the talks is now slated to begin in November. EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has suggested a Plan B<\/a> to sidestep Budapest\u2019s stonewalling that includes beginning the talks but postponing a vote until Orban leaves office. A second more dramatic option is to try and strip Hungary of its voting rights under Article 7<\/a> of the EU founding treaty that obliges member states to stick to the EU\u2019s values.<\/p>\n

Specific problems<\/strong><\/p>\n

The report for Ukraine, issued on November 4, 2025, covers the period from September 2024 to September 2025 and forms part of the broader communication COM(2025) 690 final on EU enlargement policy.<\/p>\n

Ukraine applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022, and officially opened accession negotiations on June 25, 2024. By September 2025, bilateral screening meetings had been completed, marking a key procedural step toward full accession talks.<\/p>\n

Despite the war, Ukraine adopted several roadmaps in May 2025\u2014on the rule of law, democratic institutions, public administration reform, and national minorities\u2014 relating to the first cluster negotiations.<\/p>\n

The report highlighted Ukraine\u2019s various weaknesses. Ukraine has made uneven progress in key areas of judicial and institutional reform, according to the assessments from Brussels.<\/p>\n

Fundamental cluster: <\/strong>The judiciary remains understaffed, and the appointment of Constitutional Court judges is still pending. The report calls for more robust integrity checks for judges, transparent selection processes for prosecutors, and the removal of provisions enabling political influence over the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office, United24 Media reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In anti-corruption efforts, progress has been limited. Core institutions such as NABU, SAPO, and Anti-Corruption Court (ACC) \u2013 the third pillar of the anti-corruption efforts — continue to function effectively, but Law 21414 threatened their independence. Though those measures were reversed following domestic and international pressure, the European Commission warned of growing pressure on anti-corruption activists and civil society groups. Zelenskiy has been increasingly criticised for his growing authoritarian tendencies<\/a> in the last year.<\/p>\n

Ukraine received recognition for advancing legislation on victims\u2019 rights, child protection, and implementation of the Istanbul Convention. However, the EU noted limited movement on hate-crime laws, data protection, and civil partnerships.<\/p>\n

Freedom of expression remains restricted under wartime conditions, but some progress has been made in media ownership transparency and strengthening the financial independence of the public broadcaster Suspilne.<\/p>\n

Internal market cluster: <\/strong>Ukraine is steadily aligning its legislation with EU standards across a range of sectors, including public procurement, financial control, intellectual property, and competition policy, according to the European Commission.<\/p>\n

The report highlights progress in digitalising customs administration and advancing a new EU-aligned Customs Code, alongside improvements in tax governance and financial transparency. However, it notes that important legislative gaps persist, particularly in public procurement and state aid oversight.<\/p>\n

Further alignment is also needed in financial services, company law, and consumer protection. The Commission urged Kyiv to sustain reform momentum and continue modernising the business environment.<\/p>\n

Competitiveness cluster: <\/strong>Ukraine is assessed as being at \u201cbetween moderate and good level of preparation\u201d in digital transformation and economic modernisation, according to the European Commission.<\/p>\n

The Ministry of Digital Transformation is commended for progress in aligning 5G security standards and developing digital identity systems. Reforms in education, participation in the Horizon Europe research programme, and vocational training linked to labour market needs are also highlighted as positive developments.<\/p>\n

In taxation, Ukraine is noted to have made \u201cgood progress\u201d on VAT and excise duty reform. However, the Commission stresses the need to reduce informality in the economy, improve tax administration, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the pension system.<\/p>\n

Green agenda and sustainability cluster: <\/strong>Ukraine has made notable progress in the environmental and energy sectors, despite continued Russian attacks on critical infrastructure. The European Commission highlights advancements in the country\u2019s National Energy and Climate Plan, promotion of renewable energy generation, and adoption of a framework law aligning with the EU\u2019s 2050 climate neutrality target.<\/p>\n

However, the report urges Ukraine to further liberalise its gas and electricity markets, reinforce the independence of its energy regulator, and modernise district heating systems.<\/p>\n

In the transport sector, Ukraine has adopted national strategies for border infrastructure development and road safety. Nonetheless, further alignment is required in railway and maritime legislation to bring national laws in line with EU standards.<\/p>\n

Agriculture, food safety, and regional development cluster: <\/strong>Ukraine\u2019s agricultural and rural development strategy through 2030 is fully in place. Progress continues in digital land management and expansion of the State Agrarian Register. The Commission notes strong administrative capacity but calls for the adoption of a framework law on paying agencies and the development of farm sustainability networks.<\/p>\n

Food safety reform has moved forward through the adoption of a new plant health law and Ukraine\u2019s integration into the EU\u2019s TRACES control system for sanitary and phytosanitary oversight. Participation in the EU\u2019s Interreg cross-border cooperation programmes is described as a model for regional development alignment.<\/p>\n

External relations and security cluster: <\/strong>Ukraine maintains a high level of alignment with the EU\u2019s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including full cooperation on sanctions implementation and defence coordination. The Commission notes \u201csignificantly improved military and political dialogue\u201d and welcomes Ukraine\u2019s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.<\/p>\n

It recommends further progress in aligning Ukraine\u2019s foreign investment screening procedures and trade policy with both the World Trade Organisation and the EU\u2013Ukraine Association Agreement.<\/p>\n

Challenges ahead: <\/strong>While acknowledging Ukraine\u2019s extraordinary progress, Brussels points to several critical vulnerabilities:<\/p>\n