Representatives of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine took part in the international conference “Constitutional reform: promoting independent, responsible, transparent and effective judicial authorities” on 18 February 2016
The Commission Chairman Mr. Sergii Koziakov participated in the international conference “Constitutional reform: promoting independent, responsible, transparent and effective judicial authorities” on 18 February 2016.
The event was also attended by Mr. Oleksii Filatov, Deputy Head of Presidential Administration of Ukraine, Mrs. Valentyna Simonenko, President of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, diplomats US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey R. Pyatt and Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine Marius Yanukonis, representatives of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr. Juozas Bernatonis, Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Deputy, Justice Dainius Zalimas, President of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania.
In addition, the event was also attended by Mrs. Hanne Juncher, Head of the Justice and Legal Cooperation Department of the Council of Europe, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law and Mr. Virgilijus Valančius, Team Leader of the EU Project “Support to Justice Sector Reforms in Ukraine”.
Among the scholars at the meeting were Mr. Mykola Onishchuk, Doctor of Juridical Science, Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine, Mr. Sergii Holovatyi, Doctor of Juridical Science, Deputy Member of the Venice Commission, Mrs. Olena Ovcharenko, Professor of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Mr. Louis Aucoin, Professor of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (Massachusetts, USA) and other representatives of international institutions and organizations.
The main objective of the conference was to raise the awareness concerning the major changes to the Constitution aimed at independence of accountability, transparency and efficiency of the judiciary, consensus among stakeholders to promote the adoption of constitutional amendments in part of justice, and to develop recommendations and next steps for the adoption and implementation of judicial reform.
During his speech, Mr. Sergii Koziakov, Chairman of the Commission emphasized that the qualification assessment, which started in Ukraine on 17 February 2016, is held in our country for the first time. Mr. Koziakov also noted that it is for the first time in the world when such procedure is held in so big scale (about 8 000 judges shall pass the initial qualification assessment). For these reasons it became a challenge for the management of the High Qualification Commission, since, for example, already in March 2016 the Commission has scheduled 25 meetings. Mr. Sergii Koziakov also stressed that the management of the High Qualification Commission implemented all recommendations of the European Union and the Council of Europe as to the composition of the Commission.
Concluding the meeting, the sides agreed to continue supporting of judicial reform in Ukraine, to ensure a balance between the transparency of the judiciary and judicial independence.
