President Poroshenko: accomplishments and setbacks of third year in office – expert opinion

On 17 – 23 March 2017 , the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation conducted an expert survey on victories and defeats of the President Petro Poroshenko during his third year in office and summarized recommenadtions of the experts regarding the next steps.

Among President’s best accomplishments experts name the Ukraine-EU visa-free regime, extension of sanctions against Russia, securing the anti-Russian coalition, enhancing Ukraine’s defensive capacities, relative stabilization of the political situation as well as stabilisation of the situation at the front.

Domestic policy remains a weak point. Experts noted that the fight against corruption is not succeeding and reforms are advancing slowly.

Experts agree that the President’s main task in domestic policy is the actual fight against corruption. This priority stands for the third year in a row. Experts also advise the President to finish the judicial reform, implement the election reform and facilitate the land reform.

In foreign policy it is necessary to intensify the dialogue with the USA and expand the “Normandy format” by the USA. It is also important to deepen cooperation with the European Union and the NATO and implement the Association Agreement with the EU.