Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1923

Contents

No.Reform / InvestmentName of the stepTimelineStep description4.1Reform 1.Developing the institutional capacity of the anti-corruption frameworkIncreased manpower for the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s OfficeQ32024The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is given the opportunity to increase its manpower from 10 % to 15 % of the manpower of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.4.2Reform 1.Developing the institutional capacity of the anti-corruption frameworkAppointment of a new head of the National Agency on Corruption PreventionQ22024A new head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention is appointed following a selection procedure in line with the Law on the Prevention of Corruption4.3Reform 1.Developing the institutional capacity of the anti-corruption frameworkIncreased manpower for the High Anti-Corruption CourtQ12025The personnel number of High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) judges is increased by 60 %, and the HACC apparatus number is increased by 40 %.4.4Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruptionEntry into force of the amended Criminal Code and of the Criminal Procedure CodeQ32024Entry into force of the Laws of Ukraine on amending the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The laws focus on these main areas:

—improvement of the provisions regulating plea bargain;

—a transparent and merit-based selection procedure for the head of the agency, including a credible integrity and professionalism check;

—rules on anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism, including, inter alia, on registry of bank accounts for individuals and personal bank deposit boxes, and the register of beneficial owners for trusts or other similar legal arrangements in line with the principles of:

—Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC;

—Directive (EU) 2019/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 laying down rules facilitating the use of financial and other information for the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of certain criminal offences, and repealing Council Decision 2000/642/JHA.

—removing the automatic closure of criminal cases due to the expiry of pre-trial investigation time limits and reviewing the current time limits;

—meaningful involvement of international experts, in particular for the transparent and merit-based selection procedure for the head of the bureau;

—ensures the institutional and operational independence of the Scientific Research Centre of Independent Forensic Expertise (SRCIF) by taking measures necessary for the proper functioning of the supervisory body with the meaningful participation of members appointed in accordance with Chapter III, Article 1, paragraph 1 of the Order of the Ministry of Justice No. 4436/5 dated 27 December 2023. The supervisory body will be responsible, inter alia, for the selection of the Head of the SRCIF, submitting proposals for his dismissal, evaluating his performance, and shall also be empowered to participate in inspections of the SRCIF and in disciplinary proceedings concerning SRCIF personnel;

—cancellation of the pre-trial investigation period from the time of the registration of the criminal proceedings until the notification of the suspicion;

—an independent external performance assessment system;

—addressing procedural impediments in criminal proceedings, particularly in high-level corruption cases;

—a mechanism for attestation of managerial level staff with involvment of independent experts nominated by international partners for deputy directors and heads of departments;

—ensures timely access by NABU to SRCIF-provided forensic services, within 2 months, as a preferential rule for NABU, as well as an increase of the SRCIF’s overall operational capacity;

—allowing to adjudicate certain cases by a single-judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court.

—transparent procedure for the management and sale of seized assets under the agency’s control.

—ensuring that statute of limitations and grounds for their interruption / suspension are strengthened for corruption and corruption-related offences, in line with European standards;

—an independent external performance assessment conducted by independent experts nominated by international partners.

—expands opportunities to use private forensic expertise by limiting the exclusive competence of state expert institutions to a more narrow, legally defined list of examinations.

—expanding the jurisdiction of NABU to cover the high-risk positions based on the available independent assessment;

—strengthening the independence of NABU and SAPO and protecting their jurisdiction from circumvention and undue influence through clear delineation of investigative jurisdiction among pre-trial investigation bodies and robust rules on prevention and settlement of conflicts of jurisdiction in criminal proceedings.

4.5Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruptionAdoption of the new Anti-Corruption Strategy for the period 2026-2030Q32026Adoption and publication by the Parliament of an Anti-Corruption Strategy covering the period 2026-2030.4.6Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruption.Adoption of an Action Plan for the implementation of the Asset Recovery Strategy for 2023-2025Q32024Adoption and publication on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers of an Action Plan for the implementation of the Asset Recovery Strategy for 2023-2025.4.7Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruption.Entry into force of the law reforming the Asset Recovery and Management AgencyQ12025Entry into force of the Law reforming the Asset Recovery and Management Agency. The law focuses on these main areas:4.8Reform 3.Anti-money laundering measuresConduct of the next National Risk AssessmentQ42025Preparation and implementation of the next National Risk Assessment in accordance with the updated Methodology for the National Assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing risks in Ukraine4.9Reform 3.Anti-money laundering measuresPublication in the Official Gazette of the legislation to further reinforce the anti-money laundering system, including for the purpose of Ukraine’s application to join the geographical scope of Single European Payment Area (SEPA) schemes, with an entry into force six months after the date of publication in the Official GazetteQ32026Entry into force six months after publication in the Official Gazette of legislation to further reinforce the anti-money laundering system, including for the purpose of Ukraine’s application to join the geographical scope of Single European Payment Area (SEPA) schemes.The legislation focuses on:4.10.Reform 3.Anti money-laundering measures.The necessary software and hardware for the registry of accounts and individual safe deposit boxes of individuals and is operational and access is ensured to relevant authoritiesQ22027The necessary software and hardware for the registry of accounts and individual safe deposit boxes of individuals is operational and access is ensured to relevant authorities.4.11Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruptionAdoption of the new State Anti-Corruption Program for the period 2026-2030Q42026A State Anti-Corruption Programme for implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy covering the period 2026-2030 is adopted by the Government and published.4.12Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruptionEntry into force of the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code to ensure fast and high-quality justiceQ42026Entry into force of the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code to ensure fast and high-quality justice. These amendments, to be developed after due consultation of anti-corruption agencies, focus on:4.13Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruptionEntry into force of a law reforming the State Bureau of Investigation of UkraineQ42026Entry into force of the law reforming the State Bureau of Investigation and strenghtening its operational independence, taking into account the independent comprehensive review of the SBI, as available, including the following elements:4.14Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruptionEnabling single-judge adjudication of civil and administrative cases in the High Anti-Corruption CourtQ42026Entry into force of the amendments to Civil Procedure Code and to the Code of Administrative Procedure of Ukraine, enabling single-judge adjudication of civil and administrative cases in the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC).4.15Reform 2.Improving the legal framework for a more effective fight against corruptionEntry into force of a law ensuring effective, impartial and timely access to high-quality forensic examinations by anti-corruption bodiesQ42026Entry into force of legislation that:4.16Reform 3.Anti-money laundering measuresEntry into force of legislative amendments on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assetsQ32026Entry into force of legislative amendments on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets in line with the principles of Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets and amending Directive (EU) 2015/849.4.17Reform 3.Anti money-laundering measures.The necessary software and hardware for the registry of beneficial owners for trusts or other similar legal arrangements is operational and access is ensured to relevant authoritiesQ22027The necessary software and hardware for the registry of beneficial owners for trusts or other similar legal arrangements is operational and access is ensured to relevant authorities.4.18Reform 3.Anti-money laundering measuresEntry into force of amendments aimed at establishing criminal liability for illegal actions with payment cards or other payment instruments in the interests of third partiesQ32026Entry into force of amendments aimed at establishing criminal liability for illegal actions with payment cards or other payment instruments in the interests of third parties, in line with the principles of Directive (EU) 2019/713.4.19Reform 3.Anti-money laundering measuresAdoption of a strategy and action plan on financial investigations and the introduction of methodological guidelines for conducting financial investigationsQ42026The adoption of a strategy and action plan on financial investigations, taking into account recommendations from EU and technical assistance, and the introduction of methodological guidelines for conducting financial investigations in the secondary legislation, including on money laundering, aiming to increase in the number of stand-alone money laundering cases/convictions. The action plan should include key elements from the strategy as well as the auditing of ongoing cases for retro-active opening of financial investigations. The methodological guidelines should focus particularly on criteria for opening of financial investigations, methods and resources to be used, mechanisms for data exchange (including with foreign jurisdictions), use of Joint Investigation Teams, methods to build evidentiary basis, effectiveness monitoring and review.4.20Reform 4.Combatting Human TraffickingAdoption of the State Program for Combatting Human Trafficking until 2030 in line with the EU acquis and the EU Strategy on combatting trafficking in human beingsQ22026Developing and approving the State Programme for Combatting Human Trafficking until 2030 in line with the principles of Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011, as amended by Directive 2024/1712 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024, the EU Strategy on combatting trafficking in human beings, and the recommendations of the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).