---
title: "Verkhovna Rada Restores Competitive Selection for Civil Service"
description: "The Verkhovna Rada passed a law restoring competitive selection for civil service. The transition will be phased, with veteran preferences."
date: 2026-10-26T14:38:54.716Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/verkhovna-rada-restores-competitive-selection-civil-service
tags: [ukraine, verkhovna-rada, civil-service, law, veterans, diia]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Verkhovna Rada Restores Competitive Selection for Civil Service

![Assembly hall of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with deputies at their desks under the dome](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/26/verhovnaya-rada-vernula-konkursnyy-otbor-na-gossluzhbu/verhovnaya-rada-vernula-konkursnyy-otbor-na-gossluzhbu-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Draft law No. 13478-1 adopted to restore civil service competitions
- Wartime employees retain jobs upon successful annual evaluation
- Announcements and results will be handled via the Diia portal
- Veterans receive advantages for equal scores and internships

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted in the second reading and as a whole draft law No. 13478-1, which restores transparent competitive selection for civil service positions and local self-government bodies. According to Olena Shuliak, Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Power Organization, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, the new regulation replaces the practice of appointments without competitions used during martial law.

### Phased Implementation and Transition Periods

The transition to standard selection procedures will be implemented gradually, depending on the job category within state bodies. For top-tier category 'A' positions and local self-government bodies, open competitions will resume immediately after the law officially enters into force. For categories 'B' and 'C', lawmakers established transition periods of one and two months respectively.

At the same time, current employees appointed without competitions during wartime will retain their positions. Automatic dismissal is not planned as long as employees successfully pass their annual professional performance evaluations.

### Diia Portal Integration and Professional Criteria

All stages of competitive procedures—from publishing official vacancy announcements to submitting documents and recording results—will be integrated with the state Diia portal. This digital platform will also host statistics and information regarding personnel appointments.

Professional competencies and skills remain the primary criteria for evaluating candidates. Legislative norms grant veterans priority rights in case of equal scores with other participants in the competitive selection.

### Support for Veterans and Simplified Career Progression

A separate block of amendments concerns labor adaptation and integration of veterans into public administration. They will be able to undergo specialized internships in government agencies for up to six months, and representatives of veteran associations will join the Commission on the Higher Civil Service Corps.

To preserve the human resource potential of the state apparatus, the law allows employees with excellent annual evaluation results to move to higher positions without competitions. A simplified internal competitive selection mechanism is introduced for categories 'B' and 'C'.

### Significance of the Reform for the State Apparatus

The return of competitive procedures to the civil service marks an important step toward increasing the transparency and accountability of government bodies. Amid ongoing challenges, the state aims to balance openness requirements with the need to retain qualified personnel while ensuring the social integration of war veterans.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Рада вернула конкурсный отбор на госслужбу](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rada-povernula-konkursniy-vidbir-derzhsluzhbu-1793025152.html) - Primary source confirms the parliamentary adoption of the law and statements by Olena Shuliak.

## FAQ

### Who will be affected by the first stages of competition restoration?

Competitions for category 'A' and local self-government bodies will resume immediately after the law enters into force.

### Will employees appointed without competitions during the war be fired?

No, they can keep their positions without re-selection provided they receive positive results in their annual evaluations.

### What benefits are provided for veterans?

Veterans will receive priority for equal scores, can intern for up to six months, and delegate representatives to the High Civil Service Corps Commission.