The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine hosted a meeting with representatives of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. During the event, the participants discussed draft laws developed by the ESBU and considered further approximation of national legislation in terms of combating fraud with EU funds to the norms of the European Union.

The purpose of the meeting was to develop a unified view of Ukrainian fulfilment obligations under Annex 44 to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

The participants discussed the implementation of the provisions of EU Directive 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law into national legislation.

«As part of these commitments, the ESBU has already developed two draft laws ‘On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Liability for Illegal Acts with Funds or Assets of the European Union Budgets’ and ‘On Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine on Liability for Illegal Acts with Funds or Assets of the European Union Budgets», said Andrii Pashchuk, Deputy Director of the ESBU.

According to him, their adoption will introduce an effective mechanism for prosecuting illegal actions with EU funds provided by partners to support Ukraine.

In turn, Oleksandr Ilkov, Director General of the Government Office for Coordination on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, emphasised his readiness to continue to cooperate with the ESBU experts to fulfil all relevant obligations under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and in the framework of the EU accession negotiations.