A group of European Parliament members has called on President Volodymyr Zelensky to refrain from signing the proposed asset declaration law, citing concerns that it may erode trust in reform efforts. The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, recently passed the bill, reinstating the requirement for top officials to disclose their assets as a key anti-corruption measure in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.
While the MEPs support the reinstatement of asset declarations, they believe that the current law, which postpones public access to officials’ asset declarations for an additional year, could undermine reform efforts. Originally established in the aftermath of the 2014 Euromaidan Revolution, the compulsory asset declaration system was known for its transparency, benefiting journalists and civil society.
Following the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the requirement for e-declarations was suspended, and public access to declarations was restricted. Officials continued to submit declarations voluntarily. Under the proposed law, only law enforcement agencies would have access to these declarations.
President Zelensky has stated that he will make a decision regarding the asset declaration law after consulting with Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Anti-corruption advocates and opposition lawmakers argue that Ukraine’s international partners are unlikely to accept the bill in its current form.