The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a resolution that provides for integrity checks and monitoring of the lifestyle of customs officials. This decision marks an important step towards creating a transparent customs system and reducing corruption risks, as noted by the press service of the Ministry of Finance.
This is reported by Finway
Main Provisions of the New Resolution
According to the new rules, all customs officials will undergo integrity checks once every three years. Additionally, checks will be conducted immediately in cases where information about potential corruption offenses is received from state or local authorities.
If signs of integrity violations are detected, the relevant materials will be forwarded to a special agency that deals with anti-corruption efforts. The information contained in these materials will serve as the basis for opening a disciplinary proceeding against the specific customs official.
Context of Customs Reform
In October of last year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed Law No. 6490-d, which pertains to the overhaul of the State Customs Service (SCS). This law, approved by the Verkhovna Rada a month prior to the signing, provides for a transparent competition for the position of head of the SCS with the participation of international organizations, political independence for this position, and the possibility of dismissing the head based on audit results. A re-certification of all employees is also planned within 18 months of the appointment of the new head.
“The adoption of this law is expected to increase budget revenues by 100 billion hryvnias over the next few years,” said Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the public organization “Center for Countering Corruption.”
Previously, Ukraine’s Western partners, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, emphasized the importance of implementing customs reform.