Has Ukraine earned the green light for EU talks? Insights from the Eastern Partnership Index

The coming months are likely to prove critical for Ukraine’s EU aspirations, as Brussels and Kyiv face a test of trust and political will over the next steps in the accession process.

At the core of this is the potential opening of the Fundamentals chapter, which covers the rule of law, functioning of democratic institutions, fundamental rights, public administration reform and economic criteria.

The chapter sets the tone for the entire negotiation process. If a candidate country fails to demonstrate steady progress and alignment in these areas, other chapters cannot be meaningfully opened or closed. While the European Commission has affirmed Ukraine’s readiness, the process remains blocked, most notably by Hungary’s continued veto, placing politics above merit.

Against this backdrop, the Eastern Partnership Index (EaP Index) offers a timely lens through which to assess Ukraine’s progress.

But is Ukraine really showing sufficient progress in reforms?

By evaluating reforms, governance, and policy alignment with the EU, the Index provides a relevant expert analysis of where Ukraine is advancing and where obstacles remain.

Overall, the news is positive. Ukraine has moved forward, with its aggregate score in the EaP Index 2025 rising slightly – from 0.66 to 0.67 on a 1-point scale – reflecting a reform momentum despite the ongoing war.

Ukraine’s score on state accountability rose notably – from 0.63 in 2023 to 0.71 today – highlighting measurable progress in democratic oversight and transparency. An important development has been the reactivation and upgrading of the ProZorro public procurement system, following its suspension during the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Initially developed through a unique coalition of civil society groups, IT experts, businesses, and public officials, ProZorro now serves as a key anti-corruption instrument. Its further enhancements, such as the introduction of standardised electronic fields and digital certification, have significantly improved transparency and traceability in procurement decisions. Ukraine has also continued to embed civil society organisations into accountability frameworks.

Civil society is increasingly playing a role in oversight bodies by contributing to working groups on EU accession and monitoring public tenders, thus making the country’s accountability ecosystem more inclusive and effective.

Ukraine ranks highest in the Eastern Partnership region on equal opportunities and non-discrimination, reflecting a comparatively more favourable environment – particularly when contrasted with other countries in the region where conditions remain significantly worse. However, the legal framework still falls short of international standards and vulnerable groups continue to face discrimination and threats, some of which have worsened due to the ongoing war.

Parliament has delayed the adoption of Draft Law No. 5488, which aims to strengthen protections against hate speech and hate crimes. Following the dismissal of Denys Shmyhal’s Cabinet in July 2025, the bill was automatically withdrawn under parliamentary rules as it had not passed its first reading.

The developments around this law are regrettable, but there is still time to amend the situation.

The European Commission will be closely monitoring this issue,

as the law is explicitly mentioned in the latest enlargement report.

At the same time, anti-corruption efforts, judicial independence, and human rights protection mechanisms remain areas requiring special attention, as reflected in this year’s lower scores. Ukraine faces challenges in sustaining effective anti-corruption measures as evidenced by a slight decline in its anti-corruption score – from 0.68 in 2023 to 0.65 in 2025.

The country built a sophisticated ecosystem with independent institutions such as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), and the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC).

Notably, Ukraine has implemented 75% of the recommendations from the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the highest share among Eastern Partnership countries, and maintains a fully digitalised and transparent asset declaration system for public officials.

However, enforcement remains weak, particularly in prosecuting cases, and political interference continues to undermine and threaten the system. In July 2025, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a law, immediately signed by the President, that would undermine the independence of NABU and SAPO.

This triggered the largest street protests since the start of the full-scale war, as well as rare criticism from EU officials, triggering both Parliament and the President to reverse this dangerous course.

The fact that EU officials voiced such sharp criticism is significant.

It shows that the informal "veto" on openly addressing sensitive issues in Ukraine has been lifted.

Moreover, it demonstrates a united position between official Brussels and Ukrainian civil society in defending anti-corruption reforms. Such a reversal of the decision also signifies the leverage that exists against forces attempting to weaken crucial anti-corruption reforms and offers hope for the future.

Ukraine’s judicial independence score also fell – from 0.85 in 2023 to 0.76 in 2025 – reflecting persistent challenges. Moving forward, adopting comprehensive measures and institutional reforms such as refining judicial governance bodies and enhancing the Supreme Court judge selection process will be essential to build an independent, corruption-resistant judiciary that fosters public trust and aligns fully with EU rule of law principles.

As the EaP Index shows, despite the shortcomings, overall Ukraine is moving in the right direction and deserves the opening of the Fundamentals chapter.

While challenges remain, there is not only political momentum but, more importantly, strong will from civil society and citizens to stay the course and hold the government accountable if and when it strays. This public commitment to reform is a powerful engine for change, and one the EU should actively support and build upon.

Therefore, it is crucially important to find a way to bypass Hungary’s blocking vote. Failing to do so would not only punish progress, but also damage the EU’s credibility, suggesting that enlargement is subject to internal politics rather than merit.

Opening the Fundamentals chapter would reaffirm the EU’s commitment to democratic values, reward genuine reform, and show that the EU stands by those who fight for its principles.

Yana Brovdiy,

Advocacy Index Manager,

Eastern Partnership Civi Society Forum