Ukraine's energy minister allegedly called EU ambassador "mid-level clerk", Energy Ministry issues denial

Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko used the phrase "mid-level clerk" during a government Q&A session while commenting on views expressed by EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová on a project to build additional units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

Source: a transcript of the session published by Ukraine’s Parliament press service, as reported by European Pravda

Details: During a government Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), Inna Sovsun, an MP from the Holos (Voice) faction who is a member of the parliamentary energy committee, noted that the committee had received a letter from representatives of the European Commission and the US Embassy. The letter expressed concern about public claims that both entities support the project, which they denied.

Quote from Sovsun: "In reality, there is no such support. They would like to avoid such manipulations in the future." 

Details: In response, Halushchenko said: "Regarding the opinion of mid-level clerks in the European Commission's representation, Inna, I am extremely sorry that you are running around embassies slandering our energy sector and our country."

Following a brief verbal exchange in Parliament, Halushchenko remarked that "in fact there is no unified EU approach to the development of nuclear energy, and this is well known".

Quote from Halushchenko: "Therefore, there cannot be a single EU position on the development of nuclear energy, including the construction of our units. And this has been duly announced by the EU representative in Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, who stated that the EU does not comment on the issue of the construction of the units."

Background: EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová told European Pravda on 17 December that the bill on the construction of the Khmelnytskyi NPP units, with funding from Western donors, had been drafted without consultation with the EU, although Ukraine has the right to do this. She emphasised that the EU would not be taking part in financing the project.

Update: Following the publication of this news, the Energy Ministry’s press service contacted European Pravda, asserting that Halushchenko had not been referring to Mathernová when he used the phrase "mid-level clerk". The ministry claimed that this interpretation "distorts the meaning of the minister's words" and insisted that Halushchenko had in fact "referred to the EU ambassador in Ukraine positively".

Quote from the Ministry press service: "Unfortunately, the issue of constructing additional units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP has become a subject of manipulation, including by some members of the Verkhovna Rada and experts. Specifically… private correspondence by mid-level diplomats has been used. However, the head of the EU delegation, Katarína Mathernová, has provided appropriate clarifications, which the minister referred to during the session." 

It is worth noting that a connection between the minister's comments and the EU ambassador was also made in Parliament, and that the points raised by Inna Sovsun which prompted the minister's harsh reaction were consistent with the statements made by Ambassador Mathernová.

Background:

• In June, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko stated that Ukraine planned to use donor funds to construct additional units at the nuclear power plant. By July, the Verkhovna Rada’s Anti-Corruption Committee had identified corruption risks in the corresponding draft law.
• On 17 December, the Verkhovna Rada withdrew the draft law on the placement, design and construction of Units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP from consideration.

Support UP or become our patron!