KIEV, June 23 – Corruption in Ukraine impedes reform, European Business Association President Tomas Fiala said.

"Deep-rooted corruption and personal interests are paralyzing the implementation of your initiatives and preventing businesses from working, investing and creating jobs," he said at a plenary meeting of the council of domestic and foreign investors under the chairmanship of the Ukrainian president in Kiev on Thursday.

Fiala said that the fight against corruption would be very difficult and that it would be impossible to overcome it in the next few years without significant government downsizing and wage increases to government officials.