Ambassadors of the G7 states warned the Ukrainian authorities against approving the reform of the Economic Security Bureau (ESB), which does not comply with the requirements of European integration and the program of the International Monetary Fund, European Pravda reports.

"The letter, which is at the disposal of European Pravda, is written to Chairman of Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk, and is also addressed to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak and several other officials and parliamentarians from the law enforcement and financial committees," European Pravda said in a statement on Wednesday.

The G7 ambassadors note that the reform of the Economic Security Bureau should contain four key provisions: 1. An open and transparent competition for the position of ESB new director; 2. Independent audit of the ESB activities one and three years after the appointment of a new director; 3. The possibility of dismissing the ESB director based on audit findings and the impossibility of dismissal by the government decision on the basis of "unsatisfactory results" of work; 4. Recertification of all ESB employees and appointment of new ones according to a transparent procedure regulated by law.

"We emphasize that the adoption of any bill without these elements will affect the fiscal stability of the country and the fulfillment of the conditions of the IMF program and European integration. In addition, we strongly recommend not to include in the ESB law any provisions that undermine the independence of other institutions," the letter from ambassadors says.

As noted in the European Pravda report, "the appeal to key Ukrainian officials appeared on the same day when two specialized committees of the Verkhovna Rada – law enforcement and financial – approved the government's draft law on the reform of the Economic Security Bureau."

This project has previously been criticized by business associations and anti-corruption activists due to the fact that it does not contain adequate mechanisms for re-certification and dismissal of dishonest Bureau employees.

"The government reform of the Economic Security Bureau is associated with Deputy Head of the President's Office Oleh Tatarov, who is called the informal 'curator' of the law enforcement vertical in Ukraine," the European Pravda report states.

It is noted that last year, ambassadors of the G7 countries also expressed concern about the government's intentions to appoint members of the Accounting Chamber before completing its reform.