Merkel Urges Ukrainian Authorities to Combat Corruption and Continue Reforms

The Ukrainian authorities should continue to combat corruption in the country and implement judicial and land reforms, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said addressing Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during the opening of the 4th German-Ukrainian Business Forum.

Due to quarantine restrictions, the Chancellor addressed the event participants via video conferencing.

“We see the progress of reforms, whether it concerns tender procurements, whether it concerns digitalisation. But I want to say, and you know it yourself, that some steps still need to be taken, and I understand that it is very difficult. For example, I mean the fight against corruption, the courts, as well as the land market,” Merkel said.

She stressed that Germany welcomed the investment laws passed in Ukraine which give investors more guarantees to protect their investments.

“EU’s macro-financial assistance also depends on the implementation of these reforms, association with the EU. I am aware that the path taken by your Government is difficult, but at the same time it brings Ukraine closer to the EU and gradually leads to the mutual opening of markets. So, these reforms are investments in the future in economic, political and civic terms,” the Chancellor said.

The German-Ukrainian Business Forum is being held in Düsseldorf with the participation of a Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky also participated in the opening of the forum online. He noted that Ukraine was particularly interested in cooperation with Germany in digitalisation, energy, infrastructure, logistics, agriculture and aircraft design areas.

Bohdan Marusyak