You're reading: EU to support competitive recruitment of public prosecutors in Ukraine

The EU will continue to provide necessary funds and expertise for nationwide open competition aimed at competitive recruitment of heads and deputy heads of local public prosecution offices (PPO) in Ukraine, the EU Delegation in Ukraine reported.

“For the first time in the history of the Ukrainian PPO, leadership of local Prosecutors’ offices will be recruited through an open and competitive procedure. The open competition will consist of professional knowledge tests, general skills tests, psychometric tests and face-to-face interviews,” reads a statement posted on the Facebook page of the EU Delegation in Ukraine.

The serving prosecutors can also apply, but will have no preferential treatment compared to any external candidate. “The EU will provide the necessary funds and expertise to organize testing process with the help of EU funded Support to Justice Sector Reforms in Ukraine project,” the statement reads.

Charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Thomas Frellesen said that “the EU stands ready to support a reorganization of the Public Prosecution Offices and optimization of its human resources.”

“Open, transparent and merit-based selection of Heads and Deputies of local prosecutors is a key element of such reform. It will result in an independent and impartial service, which will strengthen Ukraine’s ability to ensure the rule of law and improve its fight against corruption,” he said.