The European Parliament is considering revoking Ukraine’s EU candidate status

Member of the European Parliament Harald Vilimsky has called for Ukraine to be stripped of its EU candidate statusfollowing the adoption of a law that effectively dismantles the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU)and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

This statement was published on the official website of Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ).

“Once and for all, it became clear this week that Ukraine, in its current state, should not even come close to EU accession. We, the freedom-oriented people, have long and repeatedly pointed out Ukraine’s structural corruption — but many have ignored or mocked us for it,” Vilimsky stated.

According to him, this decision by Kyiv is a slap in the face to everyone who had hoped for democratic reforms and clear proof that “there can be no talk of European standards there.”

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill passed by the Verkhovna Rada that limits the powers of NABU and SAPO.

Meanwhile, French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad also urged Zelensky to repeal the law, warning that it undermines the autonomy of anti-corruption institutions and runs counter to Ukraine’s EU integration goals.