On Wednesday 24 January 2024, the leadership of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency met with a delegation from the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM).
ARMA was represented by the Head of the Agency Olena Duma, Deputy Head of ARMA Pavlo Velykorechanin, Deputy Head of Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation (CDTO) Stanislav Petrov and Deputy Head of ARMA for European Integration, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Grigol Katamadze.
EUAM was represented by Head of Mission Rolf Holmboe, Head of EUAM Rule of Law Component Veronika Kristkova and Head of EUAM Criminal Investigations and Organised Crime Unit Markus Mitterer.
The parties focused the dialogue on the main areas of cooperation between ARMA and EUAM.
The Head of the National Agency informed her colleagues about the activities of ARMA and the first steps towards reformatting and improving the work of the state agency.
"We have the same goals: to destroy corruption schemes, make the Agency transparent and achieve maximum efficiency in filling the country's budget in order to bring our victory closer," said Olena Duma.
The Head of ARMA also drew the attention of the EUAM delegation to the key achievements of the National Agency, including:
- Opening the Register of Seized Assets
- Formation of a new, transparent and competitive basis for the selection of managers and sellers of seized assets
- Change the "cemented" negative attitude to ARMA abroad. As evidence, the Head of the National Agency cited the following achievements:
- a) ARMA's admission to the Supervisory Board of BAMIN (Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network);
- b) ARMA's admission to the European Partners Against Corruption Network (EPAC/EACN);
- c) ARMA's participation in the 10th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption.
At the same time, Olena Duma outlined the Agency's future plans for 2024 and asked EUAM to assist in the establishment of the Reform Office at ARMA and to continue to supply software. This will in turn increase the efficiency of the Agency's work. EUAM representatives responded with support for these initiatives.
In addition, the Head of ARMA asked EUAM colleagues to support the adoption of draft law No. 10069 as soon as possible, which unblocks the National Agency's ability to manage seized corporate rights owned not only by criminals but also by Russians and Belarusians. Veronika Kristkova, EUAM's Rule of Law Component Head, pledged to review the draft law as soon as possible and to continue to support ARMA in its efforts to comply with EU legal standards.
Finally, EUAM has been invited to participate in the ARMA International Forum scheduled for the end of June this year and the presentation of the ARMA Annual Report (to be held in March 2024).
In his turn, Rolf Holmboe commended ARMA’s development towards openness, accountability, and effectiveness over the last period and explained that the role of EUAM in exploring further EUAM support for ARMA would be complementary to engagements and support by other EU entities, not least the EUDEL and EUACI. He also commended ARMA's efforts in restoring public access to the Unified State Register of Assets subject to seizure in criminal proceedings, which is a significant step towards transparency and accountability.
“As we move forward, it is crucial to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework supporting ARMA, ensuring transparent leadership selection and external audits,” stressed the EUAM Head.
The Head of ARMA confirmed the initiation of the external audit in August 2023 in letters to the President, Parliament and Government, as well as the need to improve the special law.
Thus, both sides have expressed interest in establishing cooperation in the field of finding and tracing of criminal assets, as well as in numerous other areas where the exchange of experience and best practices will allow ARMA to work more effectively and transparently.
ARMA continues to work proactively in the international arena, using all available mechanisms in the field of asset recovery and tracing, including through cooperation with leading European institutions, in order to bring Ukraine closer to EU membership as soon as possible.
