This is a normal stage. After almost four years of full-scale war, the very fact that Ukraine received a positive assessment in half of the sections can already be called a political miracle. It is important to analyze the content of the European Commission’s report, not just the headlines.
The European Commission highlights Ukraine’s exceptional resilience and firm political determination to follow the European path. The country has not collapsed; the government and parliament are functioning, and the president enjoys high support. For the EU, this indicates the political system’s ability to function even in wartime. Among the positives noted are the continued work of the Verkhovna Rada, increased openness and parliamentary control, and the completion of the legislative screening with the EU.
At the same time, the report stresses that democratic processes remain limited due to martial law: elections are not held, political competition is dormant, and party activity is paused. The EU understands these circumstances but points out that if the war drags on, updating the political mandate will become necessary.
The justice and anti-corruption sectors remain the toughest. Progress is limited: the anti-corruption system exists but works inconsistently. The NABU and SAP are formally independent, but any attempts to change their powers are seen as interference. The independence of these bodies must be ensured by law without temporary amendments. Trials on top corruption cases are slow and rare. The Constitutional Court is not fully staffed and the prosecutor general’s appointment remains politicized.
In public administration, the EU positively assessed digitalization, personnel reform, and mid-term budget planning, but there is no single political leadership in the reform process. Decentralization, according to the report, has stalled during war, and the increased role of military administrations limits local self-government.
Economic stability is a major positive aspect. Ukraine is making progress in building a functional market economy: macroeconomic stability, a reduced budget deficit, and a stable banking system and hryvnia.
The report’s importance for Ukraine’s EU membership prospects is also discussed. Government and civic organizations view the assessment differently, ranging from positive to moderate. Key challenges include the slow pace of change, especially in anti-corruption and the energy sector, where there are cases of reform rollback. Experts stress that financial support should be conditioned and controlled to prevent regression.
