EU4PFM сontinues supporting Ukraine’s PFM reforms on the path to EU Accession: the Project held its 14th Steering Committee Meeting
On February 12, EU4PFM held its 14th Steering Committee meeting.
During the event, Jurgita Domeikiene, Team Leader of EU4PFM Components 1, 3, and 4, alongside the Project Team, presented an overview of the activities, budget execution, key results achieved in 2024 to date and priorities for 2025.
Among the main milestones of the reporting period, EU4PFM has contributed to the adoption of the 2025 State Budget using the software for budget planning and monitoring, the first automatic exchange of information under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), the launch of the Big Data Transfer Pricing IT solution for the State Tax Service (STS), the adoption of the Law on amending the Customs Code on granting of special authorisation, as well as the approval of the STS Digital Development Plan until 2030.
In the opening remarks, the First Deputy Finance Minister of Ukraine, Denys Uliutin expressed gratitude to the Project Team for their support and emphasised: «For the past three years, Ukraine has been reforming its public finances in the context of a full-scale war. These are not just “cosmetic” changes but fundamental transformations of institutions and processes. A significant result of our joint efforts with the teams of the European Commission, the EU Delegation, and the EU4PFM Project is a well-established institutional and legislative framework for public finance management. Our progress on Ukraine’s path to EU accession was recognised by the European Commission in its screening of public finance management and financial control.»
Henrik Huitfeldt, Head of the Sector for Public Financing, Business Support, and Social Policies at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, acknowledged the remarkable progress made in recent years and highlighted significant advancements across all areas of the Programme. «We are now moving forward with a clear agenda on Ukraine’s EU accession path. The screening meetings took place in the autumn, and we are expecting to receive the screening reports, along with the opening benchmarks and potentially intermediate milestones adopted by the European Council. We look forward to reviewing these details and hope that the Project will continue to support Ukraine in implementing the recommendations and milestones that emerge from the screening process.»
Summing up, Mr Huitfeldt added: “I am very pleased to see the sustained commitment of the Ukrainian authorities to PFM reforms and their dedication to implementing its activities, even in these challenging circumstances. This Project, set up with the CPMA, serves as a good example of how to manage a technical assistance support programme.”
The Team Leader Jurgita Domeikiene expressed gratitude to colleagues from the Partner Institutions for the joint achievements and their uncompromising motivation to continue with PFM reforms. Ms Domeikiene also highlighted: «During this reporting period, the Work Plan for Phase 1 of EU4PFM was nearly fully implemented. A major difference in 2024 has been the Project’s increased involvement in supporting the country’s EU accession process, particularly by assisting the Ministry of Finance in preparing for the screening in the Public Administration and Public Finance Management area. The Project’s experts are now engaged in the preparations for screenings under the Tax and Customs chapters as well.»
Looking ahead, EU4PFM will continue to build on its progress, with an emphasis on:
- Strengthening the Ministry of Finance’s capacity by aligning budgetary practices with EU standards.
- Piloting budgeting and public internal control improvements in key spending units, and updating national internal audit standards in line with the latest Global Internal Audit Standards.
- Achieving alignment of national accounting standards with IPSAS and finalising technical specifications for an IT solution for accounting and financial control.
- Finalising the development and adoption of the New Customs Code, developing core customs IT systems for customs clearance and risk management, advancing NCTS Phase 6, and launching the State Customs Service Contact Centre.
- Assisting in the development of draft laws on ATAD, DAC7, and the VAT Directive, assessing national legislation’s alignment with the EU acquis on taxation.
- Collaborating with Partner Institutions to develop an Anti-Corruption Programme for 2026 and beyond, and furthering the implementation of the Competency Framework within the Tax and Customs authorities, including HRM strategy development and modern HRM tools.
With these priorities in focus, EU4PFM remains committed to supporting sustainable public finance management reforms in Ukraine and strengthening institutional resilience on the path to European integration.
As per tradition, the event brought together EU4PFM Partner Institutions — the Ministry of Finance, the State Tax Service, the State Customs Service — as well as representatives from the European Delegation to Ukraine, and international experts.
The final Steering Committee meeting of EU4PFM Phase 1 is scheduled for July 2025.
