Here is the information digest of EU Project Pravo-Justice featuring the events from 6 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.

SUPPORTING THE PROCESS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION IN THE JUSTICE SECTOR

• On 13 December, at the initiative of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and with the support of EU Project Pravo-Justice, the round table "Application of Mediation in Administrative Proceedings" was held.

The event was attended by a wide range of representatives of central and local executive authorities, the Supreme Court, local and administrative courts, as well as international and national experts of EU Project Pravo-Justice.

Virgilius Valančius, Senior International Expert of Support to EU Integration Process in the Justice Sector Component, EU Project Pravo-Justice, emphasised that EU Project Pravo-Justice would continue supporting the initiatives aimed at establishing the institution of mediation in Ukraine, in particular in the context of European integration.

JUDICIAL REFORM

• On 6 December, the roundtable event "Rule of Law and Judicial Ethics in the Training of Judges: Challenges and Tasks in the Context of European Integration" was held in Lviv. Oksana Tsymbrivska, Team Leader of EU Project Pravo-Justice, noted that the issues of the rule of law and judicial ethics in the training of judges are extremely important as they form the basis of fair justice and laid the foundations of a democratic society.

The rule of law, which is enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine as a fundamental principle, is of particular importance in our modern society, especially in the context of European integration transformational changes. After all, the rule of law is the foundation of EU values and standards which unite all the 27 Member States," noted Team Leader of EU Project Pravo-Justice.

• EU Project Pravo-Justice supported a discussion on the content and peculiarities of the application of the laws of Ukraine "On Administrative Procedure" (LAP) and "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine in Connection with the Adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On Administrative Procedure".

The event was attended by justices of the Cassation Administrative Court of the Supreme Court, judicial assistants, court staff members, representatives of the National School of Judges of Ukraine, and experts of EU Project Pravo-Justice.

Olha Sribniak, Deputy Team Leader of EU Project Pravo-Justice, noted that the Law on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts in Connection with the Adoption of LAP, signed by the President in November, amended almost 200 legislative acts. She also stressed that, in light of implementing these legislative acts, it will be crucial that judges apply their provisions properly and consistently. According to her, jurisprudence will become a key element in ensuring that these changes are effective and have a positive impact on the legal system of Ukraine.

PROSECUTORIAL REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMES

• EU Project Pravo-Justice helped prosecutors and civil servants from the Office of the Prosecutor General improve their English language skills.

Over a period of six months, 50 students completed A2, B1 and B2 courses. People interested in Legal English were divided into six groups. They attended language courses as an extra activity in addition to performing their daily job responsibilities.

Upon completing language courses, the graduates who passed the final exams received English language certificates confirming the level they achieved.

"English language skills are invaluable for the people working in the Office of the Prosecutor General. We hope that the language skills acquired by prosecutors and civil servants will be useful not only in EU accession negotiations, but also in day-to-day coordination of efforts with international institutions towards holding the perpetrators of international crimes accountable," said Anna Stakhanova, Key Expert on Accountability for International Crimes.

PENITENTIARY REFORM

• On 10 December, training course for 30 mentors of Probation in Ukraine "Motivational Interviewing. Motivating Probation Clients to Change Their Lives" was launched at the initiative and with the expert support of EU Project Pravo-Justice.

After the training, the mentors will be tested to assess their knowledge and skills. As of January 2025, they will be able to conduct their first motivational interviewing trainings for colleagues.

"Our training aims to train 30 probation mentors to conduct similar trainings for their colleagues, as there are more than 2,000 probation staff in probation offices. Motivational interviewing skills are basic skills for professionals working with people, including probationer clients. If mastered, these skills will greatly contribute to effective changes in probation clients’ antisocial behaviour," said Olena Kochura, Key Expert on Reforming the Penitentiary System and Probation at EU Project Pravo-Justice and course trainer.

• Moreover, in December, EU Project Pravo-Justice initiated and provided expert support in a series of practical trainings "Suicidal thoughts: How to Help a Person Cope" for the staff of the departments of social, educational and psychological work with convicts.

Natalia Stroieva, national expert of EU Project Pravo-Justice, noted that the rate of suicides and suicide attempts among prisoners in Ukraine is one of the highest in the world. During the training, she also explained, in particular, how to detect suicidal thoughts and discover their causes, how to recognise the levels of suicide risk, etc.

• Also, on 18 December, Probation in Ukraine, together with EU Project Pravo-Justice, held the First All-Ukrainian Forum of Probation Volunteers "Agents of Change: The Power of Those Who Care". The event gathered representatives of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the State Institution Probation Centre, the National Police of Ukraine, international experts, NGOs and probation volunteers from all over the country.

Oksana Tsymbrivska, Team Leader of EU Project Pravo-Justice, also participated in the event. She stressed that developing probation in Ukraine is particularly important in the context of European integration processes.

Iryna Zharonkina, Enforcement and Property Rights Protection Component Lead of EU Project Pravo-Justice, spoke about the role the Project plays in developing volunteering in Ukraine. It includes supporting the development of approaches to interaction between the probation service and volunteers, elaborating a concept for developing volunteering, a communication strategy, and designing training curricula for volunteers.

ENFORCEMENT OF COURT DECISIONS AND PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION

• On 20 December, EU Project Pravo-Justice together with the Interregional Expert Centre Pro Justice held a webinar "Procedural Considerations in Preventive Restructuring: Stages, Requirements and Role of the Court".

In particular, the webinar featured discussions about mechanisms for applying Law of Ukraine No. 3985-IX on the Implementation of Directive 2019/1023 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union and introducing preventive restructuring procedures, legal differences between pre-trial rehabilitation and preventive restructuring, peculiarities of initiating pre-trial rehabilitation procedures, ensuring the creditors’ interests, and peculiarities of exercising the functions of restructuring administrators.

• On 19 December, EU Project Pravo-Justice supported a roundtable discussion "Joint and several and subsidiary liability. Development of jurisprudence". Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the banking community, judges, insolvency trustees, attorneys, and researchers contributed to the discussion.

Viktoriia Vasylchuk, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, emphasised that such roundtable events are an opportunity to hear the opinions of different stakeholders and, through constructive discussion, reach a common solution that will positively impact insolvency procedures.