"Discussions on Contemporary Challenges Before the Judiciary": EU Project Pravo-Justice Supported the Event Which Took Place at the HCJ

On March 29, took place the event “Discussions on Contemporary Challenges Before the Judiciary: Building Institutional Capacity in the Conditions of War and the Post-War Period”, organized by the High Council of Justice with the support of EU Project Pravo-Justice.

Ukrainian MPs, representatives of the High Council of Justice, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine України, the Council of Judges, international technical assistance projects, including experts of EU Project Pravo-Justice, took part in the event.

Chair of the High Council of Justice Hryhorii Usyk stated that the judicial authorities of Ukraine fulfilled two out of the seven recommendations within the negotiation process on the way to full membership in the EU, in particular, in January 2023, the full-fledged composition of the HCJ was formed.

In addition, Hryhorii Usyk reminded in the framework of the “Discussions...” that since November 1 of the previous year, the disciplinary function of the HCJ had also been restored. Thus, according to him, in the period from November 1 to December 31, 2023, 14,004 cases were allocated, while in the 3 months of the current year, 2,051 cases have already been submitted to the HCJ. In the context of the Ukraine Facility Plan recently approved by the government, he emphasized that next priority should be the formation of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service. It should later be delegated with the authority to consider disciplinary complaints against judges.

In turn, Component Lead of Judiciary Reform Component of EU Project Pravo-Justice Volodymyr Chaban said that the Disciplinary Inspectors Service should be created as soon as possible, while, of course, not at the detriment of the quality of the competition. He drew attention to the fact that that task was present both in the European Commission’s report on Ukraine within the framework of the EU Enlargement Package, published at the end of last year, and in the Ukraine Facility Plan. Thus, according to the latest document, by the end of 2025, 20% of disciplinary complaints that had not been considered as of December 31, 2023 shall be considered with the participation of the DIS.

“These documents need to be looked at comprehensively and strategically. The sooner the Disciplinary Inspectors Service is created, the more time it will have to fulfill this requirement of the Ukraine Facility Plan. In particular, not only the rapprochement of our country with the EU depends on it, but also the financial support of Ukraine from European partners, which is now extremely important and necessary,” said Volodymyr Chaban.

At the same time, he emphasized that the fulfillment of these requirements cannot be formal in any case.

“When implementing certain EU recommendations, it is to understand that the conceptual goal and priority No. 1 should be building up an honest, effective and independent judicial system. This will contribute to the establishment of the rule of law, the economic development, and the attraction of investments with further membership of Ukraine in the EU”, he said.

The full video of “Discussions...” is available at the link.