This report assesses Ukraine’s readiness in the areas covered by Negotiation Chapter 22, “Regional Policy and Coordination of EU Structural Instruments” (within Cluster 5, “Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion Policy”). It identifies key legislative gaps, sources of corruption risks, and outlines priority next steps.
In the EU, regional policy works as an integrated mechanism: multi-annual programming with clear roles and responsibilities, mandatory ex-ante conditionalities, uniform data standards and beneficiary transparency, as well as financial corrections. In Ukraine, such foundation has been laid, but there is no “single code” for regional development policy. The task for the near future is to transform this set of elements into a coherent system of rules and procedures that reduces discretion, strengthens accountability, and paves the way for scaling up European investments without increasing risks.
Key recommendations should allow EU investments to be scaled up without compromising efficiency and integrity:
- Strengthen the framework legislation for regional policy by introducing European elements: seven-year plans, clear rules, defined responsibilities, and a transparent system of checks and corrections.
- Select and finance projects only if they meet basic requirements (approved strategies, compliance with environmental standards, no conflicts of interest, involvement of key stakeholders).
- Create a single digital project management system: a shared database, open data and user-friendly public dashboards.
- Make community participation and fair competition a prerequisite for funding: public consultations, a return to open tenders, effective safeguards against collusion, and increased requirements for large contracts.
