The European Commission, in its latest report on EU enlargement for 2025, noted a number of challenges faced by Ukraine, particularly the increasing pressure on specialized anti-corruption agencies and civil society representatives.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Positive Developments and Challenges on the Path to the EU
The document, which will be officially presented on November 4, emphasizes the significant progress Ukraine has made in implementing necessary reforms for EU membership, even amid the challenging conditions of war. The European Commission positively assessed Ukraine’s adoption of “roadmaps” for reforming the rule of law, public administration, democratic institutions, and the implementation of an action plan to protect the rights of national minorities.
At the same time, the report notes negative trends.
“Recent negative trends, including the increasing pressure on specialized anti-corruption agencies and civil society, must be decisively overcome.”
Among the examples of pressure on anti-corruption agencies mentioned in the report are the July protests against a law that could threaten the independence of NABU and SAP. Following public outcry and international criticism, another law was passed that restored the independence of these agencies. However, the document notes that problematic provisions remain, allowing for the transfer and appointment of prosecutors without competition during martial law, as well as granting the Attorney General access to various materials of pre-trial investigations, except for those under the jurisdiction of NABU and SAP.
Next Steps and Euro-Integration Ambitions
The European Commission emphasizes the importance of further strengthening the independence, integrity, and effectiveness of the judiciary, the prosecution service, and law enforcement agencies, as well as enhancing the fight against organized crime.
The report also mentions that Ukraine aims to complete negotiations for EU membership by the end of 2028. This goal, according to the European Commission, is quite ambitious, and to achieve it, the pace of reforms, especially in the area of the rule of law, needs to be accelerated.
Ukraine has already met the conditions for opening several negotiation clusters – specifically, “fundamental principles,” “internal market,” and “external relations.” By the end of this year, the country should be ready to open three more negotiation clusters that remain closed. In total, the negotiation process involves six clusters covering 35 thematic chapters of EU legislation. Currently, Hungary is blocking the opening of the first clusters for Ukraine.
This report is the first analysis of the situation in candidate countries prepared by the new composition of the European Commission, which began its work at the end of 2024. In September 2025, the European Commission reported that Ukraine had completed the screening of legislation in preparation for negotiations on euro-integration.