The EU has urged Ukraine to reform the police and State Bureau of Investigation, allowing ‘independent’ experts to participate in selecting their leadership

The European Commission has called on Ukrainian authorities to reform the National Police and the State Bureau of Investigation over the coming year.

This was reported on the Telegram channel of Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament from the “Voice” faction, citing the Commission’s report as part of the 2024 EU enlargement package.

This report contains assessments of the progress made by all candidate and potential candidate countries for EU membership. The report was presented on October 30.

In the report, the Commission urged the introduction of selection processes for leadership positions in the police and the State Bureau of Investigation involving “independent experts” (recommended by Western partners), both at central and regional offices.

“Implement transparent, merit-based procedures for selecting and appointing leaders in the central and regional offices of the National Police and the State Bureau of Investigation, with the involvement of independent experts. These procedures should be accompanied by strict disciplinary and anti-corruption rules, adapted to the local context and aimed at addressing actual corruption risks,” the document states.

Zheleznyak suggested that this requirement may become a condition for future aid.

It’s worth noting that the Commission also criticized Ukraine’s unified television marathon in the document.