A modern anti-corruption strategy requires shifting the focus from a purely criminal-law-based response to the creation of effective prevention mechanisms. Key elements of such a system include the institutionalization of integrity, the implementation of good governance principles, and the transformation of the management culture. In an interview with the media outlet “Zakarpats’kyi Visnyk,” Volodymyr, the Chief of Staff of the Executive Office of the Zakarpattia Regional Council, spoke about the implementation of a joint international project with partners from the Netherlands and Slovakia, as well as on the adaptation of European standards in the public sector, in an interview with the media outlet “Zakarpats’kyi Visnyk,” Volodymyr Hnatkovsky, Chief of Staff of the Executive Office of the Zakarpattia Regional Council, spoke.
The Role of Regional Self-Government in International Cooperation
Under the legal framework of martial law, the Transcarpathian Regional Council has significantly stepped up its activities on the international stage. Since the European system of governance treats regional councils as local parliaments with a direct representative mandate from the community, interregional communication has proven highly effective.
As part of this collaboration, the Transcarpathian Regional Council, together with partner institutions in the Netherlands, Slovakia, and the Berehove City Council, implemented the project “Decision-Making Based on Moral Judgments as a Guarantee of Integrity and Good Governance.” The initiative aims to engage local governments in developing “bottom-up” anti-corruption recommendations that take into account the actual state of public service delivery at the local level.
The European Approach: Integrity as a Means of Minimizing Systemic Risks
In European governance practice, the concept of integrity is viewed not as an abstract category, but as a clear indicator of professional competence and a safeguard against risks. Unlike the traditional punitive approach, which focuses solely on the fact of an offense, the European model analyzes the long-term consequences of unethical behavior for society.
Case Study Analysis (Dutch Armed Forces): An internal audit of the Dutch Armed Forces revealed that diving instructors had falsified data regarding the number of hours spent underwater in order to receive financial bonuses.
An assessment of this incident from the perspective of good governance revealed that the primary risk in this case is not only financial losses to the state but also the loss of a specialist’s professional qualifications. In the event of an emergency, an unprepared employee jeopardizes the completion of a combat mission, his own life, and the safety of the person he is supposed to rescue. Thus, any manifestation of misconduct is viewed as a potential threat to public and national security.
Establishing Institutional Safeguards and Political Accountability
Today, Ukraine has a well-developed system of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies (NABU, SAPO, and specialized units of the National Police of Ukraine), whose activities focus on documenting and investigating crimes that have already been committed. However, in the early stages of institutional transformation, institutional safeguards remain insufficiently developed.
As Volodymyr Hnatkivsky notes, the key task is to create regulatory, legal, and ethical safeguards that would prevent the abuse of official position at an early stage.
Standards of Political Accountability in EU Countries: In the European political system, the use of administrative resources or lobbying on behalf of private interests entails unconditional political accountability in the form of loss of office and reputation, as well as the inability to continue serving in public office. In Ukraine, the institution of political and ethical accountability is currently in the process of active development, driven by public demand and the requirements of European integration.
Conclusions and Regulatory and Legal Prospects
The recommendations developed during the implementation of the international project serve as a basis for further communication with members of the Ukrainian Parliament regarding the improvement of relevant legislation, particularly with regard to clearly defining integrity criteria in the civil service and local government.
Adapting European best practices and implementing the principles of good governance through legislation are essential for ensuring that Ukraine meets the fundamental requirements for membership in the European Union.
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