The European Commission has identified an external audit as one of the key priorities
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) has appealed to Acting Prosecutor General Anton Kovalsky with an initiative to conduct an external independent audit of the agency. This step is a response to recommendations from the European Commission released on November 4, 2026. This was reported by Ukrinform citing Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The SAP’s statement emphasizes the importance of forming a special commission to evaluate the operational effectiveness of the anti-corruption agency. According to the institution’s head, Oleksandr Klymenko, conducting such an audit is a necessary tool to ensure transparency and accountability to society. The leadership of the agency expressed its readiness for a professional assessment of both its strengths and areas requiring further improvement.
Legal mechanisms for the audit
Ukrainian legislation, specifically the Law on the Prosecutor’s Office, provides for an external independent evaluation of SAP’s activities every two years. However, since the adoption of these provisions, the procedure for creating the commission, which is to consist of three independent experts, has not been implemented. These experts are appointed by the Prosecutor General based on proposals from international and foreign organizations providing technical assistance in anti-corruption efforts.
Assessment by the European Commission
The recommendation for an audit was recorded in the European Commission’s annual report, presented as part of the EU Enlargement Package. Beyond the need for external oversight, the document highlights the high operational effectiveness of SAP, NABU, and HACC, which have solved several high-profile cases over the past year, particularly in the defense and energy sectors.
As part of ongoing cooperation with the EU, Ukraine is tasked with strengthening the institutional autonomy of anti-corruption bodies. This includes updating the Anti-Corruption Strategy, expanding NABU’s investigative jurisdiction, and removing legislative obstacles that limit the duration of criminal investigations.
Photo: facebook.com/anton.kovalsky
Read also: Two ships collide in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania
