02.02.2026
Aron Kerpel-Fronius, Energy Policy Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, stated during the Energy Freedom discussion that strengthening the Regulator’s institutional independence is one of the key milestones for Ukraine to receive financial assistance from the EU.
According to him, the European Union is closely monitoring the legislative process surrounding the NEURC reform, as this issue extends beyond the purely energy agenda.
“Strengthening the regulator’s independence is a priority in Chapter 15 (‘Energy’) of our enlargement report. It is also an important milestone in our Ukraine Plan, which is linked to quarterly payments into the budget under the Ukraine Facility. A well-resourced, autonomous, and impartial regulator is a necessary condition for investor confidence,” the diplomat emphasized.
Commenting on legislative initiatives (specifically Draft Law No. 14282), the EU representative noted that Brussels is closely coordinating its position with the Energy Community Secretariat. In particular, the EU supports the idea of involving independent international experts in the selection process for NEURC members.
“We fully support the Secretariat’s recommendations to have independently appointed members of the Selection Committee — perhaps as a temporary measure — who would have voting rights and participate in the selection of the Regulator’s commissioners. Following the ‘Midas’ scandal, this becomes even more significant for restoring donor trust,” Aron Kerpel-Fronius underlined.
He also expressed hope that the final version of the law will incorporate these recommendations, which would contribute to smoother negotiations regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
