Three years of reforms in Ukraine: 10 key achievements and 10 failures

 

March 7 was three years since the Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR) was introduced. March 7, 2014 dozens of activists, including Hanna Hopko, Svitlana Zalishchuk Oksana Syroyid, Oleh Rybachuk, Olha Halabala Viktor Taran, Natalia Sokolenko, and many others created the public initiative “Reanimation Package of Reforms”.

Their goal was clear and understandable: quick resuscitation of the country, irreversible changes in anti-corruption, judicial, electoral, constitutional, law enforcement spheres, reforms of civil service and decentralization. RPR brought together 73 organizations and 300 experts who contributed to the drafting of more than 300 laws.

The first “offensive moves” were rapid and victorious. The agenda of the society became the agenda of public authorities. However, in a few months “reactionary forces” recovered and began their game. It became obvious that much more could have been done if not for the fatigue from fighting among experts that, despite planted myths are in a coalition for free (grants that RPR receives mainly from the European Union, cover only the projects and the work of its Secretariat). “Novoe vremya” magazine asked RPR experts to summarize what they have done for the country during these three years, and what plans they failed to implement. UCMC herewith provides a short version of the report.

10 key achievements 10 failures
The Armed Forces of Ukraine were strengthened as a primary necessity for a country that suffers from external aggression.

The absence of a strategy for the integration of the temporarily occupied territories and Crimea.

Macroeconomic situation was stabilized, a default and inflation spiral were prevented.

The sharp decline in well being of Ukrainians. Although the main causes are war and loss of territory, but many mistakes have been made by the authorities.

Formation of an independent system of agencies in charge of investigating high-profile corruption: the National Anticorruption Bureau, the Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, and National Agency on Corruption Prevention as an opportunity for structural changes

Fiscal bodies remain unreformed, government-business relations are still unproductive.

Launch and maintenance of the online system of public procurement ProZorro.

Many corruption schemes were not destroyed but taken over by the new government.

The undisputed achievement is independence from Russian gas; Ukrainians have been told for many years that this was impossible.

Business is still racketeered by law-enforcement agencies.

Traffic corruption was eliminated: another incredible result that exceeded the expectations.

Personnel policy and staffing are still based on loyalty, rather than professionalism.

Electronic declarations were introduced for state officials to provide more information to general public; stealing and hiding the stolen has become much more difficult.

The lack of significant progress in building the rule of law: the lack of effective investigation of Maidan crimes, continued practice of political pressure on independent bodies, lack of police reform (except Patrol police) and the prosecutor’s office.

The largest scheme of political corruption in Ukraine, different gas prices for different customers, was abolished.

The lack of judicial reform.

The decentralization reform was launched, united communities were created to transfer financial resources to the local level.

Unwillingness to change the electoral law to refresh the political elites and separate capital from politics.

The procedures of opening and closing a business and tax administration, including VAT, were liberalized.

No major enterprise has been privatized.