EU's foreign affair chief urges Ukraine to speed up anti-corruption reform

Ukraine should speed up implementation of a comprehensive anti-corruption reform to ensure the country's sustainable development and promote its international status, visiting European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini here on Monday.

"The anti-corruption reform is a key to ensure credibility of Ukraine among its partners," Mogherini said during a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko after their meeting.

Underlining the importance of the reform for the establishment of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU, Mogherini said that a special anti-corruption bureau should be set up in Ukraine in the nearest future to make the country's administrative bodies more transparent.

For his part, Poroshenko mentioned the progress in Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts, saying that Kiev has already coordinated controversial issues with the EU on the appointment of a special official tasked with tackling corruption.

"I would like to inform that Ukraine had resolved the question concerning the members of the commission, which would elect the anti-corruption prosecutor," Poroshenko said.

An effective anti-corruption reform is one of the main provisions of the Association Agreement between Kiev and the EU that is aimed at bringing Ukraine closer to European standards.

The economic portion of the pact, which includes a comprehensive free trade deal, will become effective on Jan. 1, 2016.
 Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
 10/11/15