Vitalii Bezghin: restoring civil service competitions is an important step in meeting Ukraine’s Ukraine Facility commitments

Today the Verkhovna Rada adopted at second reading draft law No. 13478-1 “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Concerning the Resumption of Competitions and Improvement of the Procedure for Entering, Serving in and Leaving the Civil Service”.

Meeting this indicator under the Ukraine Facility provides for EUR 137 million to be received by the state budget of Ukraine.

“Martial law required swift and flexible decisions on personnel appointments. But forced decisions must not become permanent practice. Restoring competitions means returning to a system in which professionalism and meeting the requirements of the position are decisive. A professional public service is, first and foremost, about open selection, integrity and clear rules,” — said Vitalii Bezghin, Minister for Communities, Territories and IDPs.

What will change:

• Open competitions for civil service and local self-government positions will return as soon as the law takes effect. Transitional periods are established for positions filled without a competition;

• Continuing to work without a competition will be possible by decision of the head of the service, provided that the annual performance assessment is positive.

• War veterans will receive a priority right to appointment.

• Integrity will become a mandatory criterion for candidates and public servants.

• The Commission on the Senior Civil Service is to be reset and depoliticised.

• A repeat special vetting procedure will not be carried out if the previous check had no negative findings, service was continuous, and the new appointment took place within five working days after dismissal.

Transitional rules have been established for employees appointed without competition in local self-government bodies. In areas of active hostilities and temporary occupation where no end date has been established, certain managers may be appointed without a competition.

The draft law forms part of the implementation of Ukraine’s commitments under the Ukraine Plan for 2024–2027 within the Ukraine Facility and the continuation of public administration reform.