Ukraine is failing to create the structures responsible for enforcement of the Association Agreement with EU on time

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The Cabinet of Ministers is failing to complete creation of structures that will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union by the set deadline. In particular, only 5 ministries of 17 submitted their nominees to the bilateral Association Committee, while initially the government planned to form the committee by the end of July.

Competitive selection

According to the information Capital possesses, none of the bodies directly responsible for European integration have yet been formed, although it was expected that by the end of July the so-called Euro-vertical would begin to take shape. In addition to that, the process of selection of candidates for employment in these bodies has slowed down, as several candidates for the vacancies anonymously told the publication. “In many ministries, the competitive selections for positions in European integration agencies have not been completed, although, according to deadlines, their approval by the government should have already begun,” confirmed interlocutors. The reasons for the delay, as they believe, include high bureaucracy, non-transparent selection and confusion in the Cabinet due to the announcement of Premier Arseniy Yatsenyuk of his resignation.

Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Ostap Semerak failed to comment on the situation on the formation of the European integration bodies. “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to give commentary,” the minister’s press service told Capital.

As former Ambassador of Ukraine to EU Roman Shpek told the publication, the AA clearly specifies formation of joint structures, which will be overseeing fulfillment of the provisions of the agreement by both parties. The Council of the Association will be the supreme body in charge of approval of all strategic decisions. The EU will be represented in it by members of the EU Council and the European Commission. Kyiv will delegate Ukrainian ministers led by the premier.

A bilateral Association Committee is another body. It is planned that the Ukrainian side will be represented in it by deputy ministers for European integration, who will be overseeing enforcement of the decisions within the spheres of responsibility of their ministries.

These new positions in the system of public administration were introduced by the Cabinet’s resolution of May 21. The candidates for the positions of deputy ministers for European integration were to be selected via open competitive selection and the Cabinet was expected to approve them. The first stage of acceptance of applications ended on July 1. Semerak says there were 186 candidates for 17 positions. “They will be the key people for European integration of Ukraine,” he said at the meeting with journalists on July 16. Semerak added that formation of the Ukrainian part of the European Integration Committee should be completed by the end of July.

There is a place for the government office on European integration in the Euro-vertical, which will be coordinating the operation of the bodies of executive power. The office should become a partner of the EU structure called Support Group for Ukraine, which will consult Kyiv on the issues of conducting reforms in different spheres. The number of the employees of the government office, Semerak says, should be around 30 people, who will also be appointed via competitive selection.

Losing tempo

A source in the government told Capital that at the moment only five ministers presented their nominees for positions in the committee for approval by the government. He also said that a number of participants of the competitive selections were complaining that they are not transparent.

“Many ministries try to push through candidates who are loyal to the ministers. Some candidates are not even present at the meeting of the expert commission, but then they are nominated for approval by the Cabinet,” said the interlocutor.

Shpek believes that the delay in formation of the bodies controlling implementation of the AA is inadmissible. He says that in this case Kyiv risks losing the pace of introduction of provisions of the agreement, which would slow down the reforms of the national economy. “It is very important for Ukraine to organize the operation of joint bodies well, seeing as the speed of rebuilding the country and its economy depends on that,” he told Capital.

Worsening of Ukraine’s image in Europe could be yet another consequence of the delay, believes Shpek, adding that the EU will simply not discuss with Kyiv the issues of interaction with the European market in such a case. Instead, Kyiv will be accused of failing to fulfill its obligations.

As a reminder, last week the Presidential Administration announced that it expects ratification of the AA with the EU by the Verkhovna Rada in September. Deputy Presidential Chief-of-Staff Valeriy Chaliy claims that Ukraine is not trying to quickly adopt the document in the parliament due to the desire to avoid financial losses from the reduction of import duties.