On 11 June 2026, the European Union, Germany and Ukraine officially launched Phase II of the Strengthening Ukraine's EU Alignment in the Rule of Law (3*E4U) Programme at an event in Kyiv. The new phase, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and the EU and implemented by GIZ, will intensify support for Ukraine's EU accession process through reforms in the rule of law, justice, fundamental rights, law enforcement, and the fight against organised crime.
Taking the 3*E Road to Judicial and Law Enforcement Reform for EU Accession”, brought together representatives of Ukrainian state institutions, international partners, experts and civil society. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová stated: “Rule of Law is at the heart of citizens’ trust in the state, its institutions and Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union.” She noted that the Rule of Law Roadmap provides a clear framework for the next stage of Ukraine’s European journey. German Ambassador Heiko Thoms added that Germany is a steadfast supporter of Ukraine’s EU accession and that Phase II focuses on consistent implementation of rule-of-law reforms, particularly judicial reform, fundamental rights and law enforcement.
Phase I of 3*E4U, launched in 2024, has already contributed to strengthening the rule of law by supporting the development of 14 draft reform documents and two national roadmaps, mobilising 95 legal and policy experts, and facilitating 2,518 participations in screening exercises and capacity-building activities. The programme has helped make the negotiation process more participatory, with 76% of participants rating it as more inclusive.
Phase II marks a transition from strategic planning to coordinated reform implementation. It will extend its focus to law enforcement reforms, with particular attention to combating organised crime. Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, emphasised that rule-of-law reforms are part of a profound internal transformation and that real results depend on the quality of practical implementation. Mathias Steinebach, Programme Director of 3*E4U, underlined that the second phase starts at a moment when strategic documents must be translated into concrete decisions and practical steps.
The event also included thematic discussions on strengthening justice institutions, the judiciary and fundamental rights, as well as law enforcement and the fight against organised crime.
The programme directly benefits Ukrainian state institutions (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) by providing expertise and capacity-building for EU alignment. Ukrainian civil society and the expert community gain a more inclusive role in the reform process. EU and German taxpayers fund the initiative, with the EU joining Germany as a co-funder in Phase II, spreading the financial burden. The programme imposes no direct costs on Ukrainian businesses or citizens, but successful implementation of rule-of-law reforms is expected to improve the business climate and strengthen citizens' trust in state institutions.
The programme will continue to work with Ukrainian partners and international stakeholders to implement the Rule of Law Roadmap and advance reforms under EU negotiation Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security).