Experts Warn: Ukraine’s EU Integration Risks Being Undermined by Internal Political Challenges

On April 15, the German-Ukrainian Bureau (DUB) hosted an online expert discussion on the first “Membership Check” assessment, prepared by a coalition of leading Ukrainian think tanks and civil society organisations. The report evaluates Ukraine’s progress in implementing key reforms required for EU accession under the so-called Kachka–Kos Plan. As part of the 10 point plan, Ukraine‘s government committed to implementing 10 priority reforms in the field of rule of law in 2026.

As of April 2026, experts assess the overall progress as critically low, with a score of just 9 out of 100 points. Much of the reform effort remains at the stage of legislative drafting or political discussion, with limited tangible implementation so far.

The discussion, held under the Chatham House Rule, brought together several authors of the study, including Martina Boguslavets (Mezha Anti-Corruption Center), Sergiy Sydorenko (European Pravda), Tetiana Shevchuk (Anti-Corruption Action Centre), and Anton Alimov (New Europe Center). The conversation focused on the underlying causes of delays in key reforms and the prospects for accelerating implementation.

Speakers highlighted the impact of Ukraine’s ongoing political tensions on the reform process, pointing to institutional frictions between the President, Parliament, and the government. Particular attention was given to ‘parliamentary dysfunction’ and its implications for advancing EU-related legislation. At the same time, participants noted that despite these challenges, progress remains possible if constructive political engagement is restored.

A key concern raised during the discussion was the blockage of critical anti-corruption and law enforcement reforms, including delays in depoliticising the appointment process of the the Prosecutor General, the selection of head and the reform of the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Head of the National Police. These bottlenecks undermine both the credibility of reforms and Ukraine’s broader EU integration efforts.

Participants also discussed the role of civil society, emphasizing its continued commitment to advocating for reforms despite resource constraints and political obstacles. The importance of conditional EU support was highlighted as a potential driver for progress, alongside the need to insist on the full implementation of Ukraine’s own reform commitments, outlined in the Kos-Kachka Plan.

About the “Membership Check” Initiative

The “Membership Check” initiative provides independent monitoring of Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership. The current assessment is based on 10 key reform priorities outlined in the Joint Statement by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka in December 2025.

The first report establishes a baseline for reform implementation, with future assessments intended to track progress over time.

The initiative is implemented by a coalition of leading Ukrainian think tanks and civil society organisations, including MEZHA Anti-Corruption Center, European Pravda, ANTS, DeJure Foundation, New Europe Center, Centre of Policy and Legal Reform, Anti-Corruption Action Center, and Transparency International Ukraine.

This discussion is part of the Continuing Successful Anti-Corruption (COSAC) Reform Initiative, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, which aims to strengthen dialogue between Ukrainian and European stakeholders and support Ukraine’s reform and EU integration efforts.