Procedural Aspects of Interaction Between Authorized Anti-Corruption Units and Specially Authorized Entities in the Sphere of Anti-corruption: A Comparative Legal Analysis (the Case of Ukraine and European Union Institutions)

This article addresses the problem of procedural aspects of interaction between authorized anticorruption units and specially authorized entities in the sphere of anti-corruption. Research into this issue is particularly relevant within the context of Ukraine's European integration aspirations and the necessity to adapt national legislation to European Union standards, especially under martial law conditions. The national model of interaction is analyzed, encompassing the activities of authorized units at the local level and specially authorized entities, such as the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine, and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, at the central level. Key forms of such interaction, including information exchange, coordination, and cooperation in criminal proceedings, are highlighted. The article substantiates the need to improve the legal regulation and practical mechanisms of cooperation among various links of the anti-corruption infrastructure. Formal legal, systemic-structural, comparative legal, and dialectical methods were chosen as research approaches. Based on an analysis of Ukrainian legislation, scholarly works by domestic academics, and international standards, a number of problems have been identified. These include insufficient procedural regulation of joint activities, which creates risks for the effectiveness of pre-trial investigations, and limited guarantees for the independence of anticorruption commissioners, which diminishes their preventive potential. The article analyzes the experience of anti-corruption institutions within the European Union, specifically the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The author of the article believes that the European model, which is based on a clear delineation of powers, the supranational nature of certain institutions, and thoroughly regulated interaction procedures, can serve as a benchmark for Ukraine. Particular attention is paid to the practices of Italy and France regarding the strengthening of the independence of authorized persons and the standardization of internal investigations. The work concludes that enhancing the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine directly depends on the harmonization and strengthening of interaction among all entities involved in anti-corruption activities. Special emphasis is placed on the concepts of "authorized anti-corruption unit," "specially authorized entities," "procedural interaction," and "anti-corruption infrastructure." The expediency of implementing European standards into national legislation has been established. The author offers her own proposals for improvement, particularly through strengthening the institutional independence of authorized personnel, detailing the procedural order of their interaction with investigative bodies and the prosecution, and deepening international cooperation.