ANNOUNCEMENT / Ukraine's EU Accession and Rule of Law

The German-Ukrainian Bureau (DUB), together with the Center for Liberal Modernity (LibMod), cordially invites Berlin-based experts to a personal discussion with the Chair of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Anastasia Radina, on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, at 11:30 AM (CET).

The Ukrainian MP will be accompanied by two leading representatives of Ukrainian civil society - Tetians Shevchuk (Anti Corruption Action Centre) and Martyna Boguslavets (Anti Corruption Centre Mezha). The discussion will focus on Ukraine’s EU accession with an emphasis on rule of law, as well as the current state of anti-corruption efforts. The civil society experts will also present insights from the most recent Shadow Report on Rule of Law, Justice, and Fundamental Rights.

Welcome remarks: Ralf Fücks, Founder and Managing Director, Center for Liberal Modernity (LibMod)

Guests of the briefing:

• Anastasia Radina, Ukrainian MP (Servant of the People), Chair of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Verkhovna Rada

• Martina Boguslavets, CEO and Founder, Mezha Anti-Corruption Center

• Tetiana Shevchuk, Legal Counsel & Advocacy Manager, Board Member of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC)

• Mattia Nelles, Managing Director, German-Ukrainian Bureau (DUB)

  
  

Moderation: Khatia Kikalishvili, Program Director, Eastern Partnership, Center for Liberal Modernity

Registration is required

The conversation will take place in English, without translation, on September 24th, 11:30 - 13:00 CET in Berlin. Due to the limited number of seats, registration is mandatory. After your registration is confirmed, you will receive the event venue address.

Background

Ukraine has been an EU candidate country since 2022 and completed the screening for the fundamentals cluster—the detailed examination of legislation and reform progress forming the basis of accession negotiations—in January 2025, presenting roadmaps on rule of law, public administration reform, and democratic institutions. However, the official launch of negotiations has so far been blocked by repeated Hungarian vetoes. While major reforms—such as strengthening the judiciary and fighting corruption—have advanced, ensuring their sustainable implementation remains challenging. At the same time, parts of civil society and independent media face growing restrictions, limiting their role as reform drivers and watchdogs.

This Expert meeting is part of the project “Continuing Successful Anti-Corruption (COSAC) Reform Initiative”, funded by the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) and implemented by the German-Ukrainian Bureau (DUB) in cooperation with the Ukrainian NGO Center for Democratic Transformation “Mezha” in the EU and Ukraine.