DUB leads expert delegation to Berlin and Copenhagen on Ukraine's fundamental reforms

From 23 to 26 September, the German-Ukrainian Bureau (DUB) led a high-level expert delegation to Berlin and Copenhagen for a four-day programme of meetings with decision-makers from parliament, government, civil society, academia, and the media. The visit focused on Ukraine's progress under the EU accession fundamentals cluster, and ongoing rule of law reforms.

The delegation was composed of Anastasia Radina, Head of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Verkhovna Rada; Tetiana Shevchuk, Board Member of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre (AntAC); Martina Boguslavets, CEO of the Anti-Corruption Center Mezha; and DUB CEO Mattia Nelles.

In both capitals, the delegation held committee meetings in the German Bundestag and the Danish Folketinget, and was received by the Danish Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, and the Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen. The NGO experts presented key findings from their forthcoming shadow report assessing Ukraine's alignment with EU standards under chapters 23 and 24, and offered a candid analysis of the mounting pressure on Ukraine's independent anti-corruption institutions. The delegation underlined that the fundamentals cluster — including the Rule of Law Roadmap drafted by the Ukrainian government in consultation with national stakeholders — remains the most effective framework for advancing reforms and preventing rollbacks. The opening of the cluster currently remains blocked by Hungary, and unlocking the process will require coordinated action by a majority of EU member states.

Discussions in Copenhagen also addressed the so-called "Danish model" of direct investment in Ukraine's defence sector, which has since been adopted by Germany and other partners. The delegation explored with Minister Poulsen how governance, procurement transparency, and the inclusion of innovative Ukrainian defence companies can be further strengthened.

DUB extends its sincere thanks to Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen and her team, whose local network made the Danish leg of the visit possible.

The mission was carried out as part of the project "Continuing Successful Anti-Corruption (COSAC) Reform Initiative", funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).