The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine continues preparatory work on the European integration reform of the mandatory vehicle inspection system (MVI). The reform covers both changes to the inspection procedure itself and the introduction of mandatory inspections for all categories of vehicles.

To facilitate an expert discussion of the proposed reform provisions, a roundtable was held.

The event was organised at the initiative of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine with the support of the European Hub Civic Union and the International Renaissance Foundation. 

The roundtable, entitled «Mandatory Vehicle Inspection Reform: How to Implement European Practices in Ukraine and Minimise Corruption Risks», brought together representatives of the Government, the European Commission, civil society organisations, transport operators, and vehicle inspection centres.

Participants discussed the key elements of the reform, its benefits for citizens and businesses, as well as ways to eliminate corruption risks identified in a study by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).

«The mandatory vehicle inspection reform is about creating a modern system trusted by citizens, businesses, and the state. The current model no longer meets either road safety needs or European requirements. Our objective is to build a transparent, digital, and understandable system that minimises the human factor, eliminates corruption risks, and operates under the same rules for everyone. At the same time, this reform is an important part of Ukraine's European integration and the fulfilment of our commitments to the European Union», — said Serhii Derkach, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine. 

Participants in the roundtable emphasised the importance of coordinated cooperation between the Government and businesses in building an effective, transparent, and corruption-resistant vehicle inspection system. The implementation of the reform is aimed at improving road safety, reducing the environmental impact of transport, minimising corruption risks, and fulfilling Ukraine's European integration commitments.

Among the key elements of the reform, Serhii Derkach highlighted:

• a new market access procedure with clear requirements for MVI operators (i.e. inspection centres authorised to carry out inspections); 
• certification and mandatory continuous professional development for inspectors;
• digitalisation and the elimination of paper-based documentation;
• photo and video recording of the inspection process to prevent abuses;
• the introduction of a comprehensive state supervision system, including scheduled and unscheduled inspections;
• liability for violations, including the falsification of inspection results and the operation of technically defective vehicles.

The European integration reform provides for the introduction of mandatory vehicle inspections for all vehicle categories, including passenger cars, in accordance with Directive 2014/45/EU.

Following its analysis, the NACP issued preliminary recommendations to the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. These include introducing a unified mechanism for access to the MVI market, regulating the legal status and personal responsibility of inspectors, ensuring the transfer of data from inspection centres to the national database, and clearly defining the responsibilities of all participants in the system according to their respective roles.n

Background:

The current mandatory vehicle inspection system has a number of systemic shortcomings. It does not provide comprehensive oversight of the technical condition of most vehicles, lacks sufficient digitalisation, enjoys a low level of public trust, and does not comply with the requirements of Directive 2014/45/EU. The reform is intended to address these shortcomings and align Ukraine's mandatory vehicle inspection system with European standards.

The event was organised by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the European Hub Civic Union with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.

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