Representatives of the High Qualification Commission took part in the discussion of the current issues of the Public Integrity Council
On 21 March 2017, the discussion of the topical issues of activity of the Public Integrity Council (PIC) took place at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The event was organized by the Council of Europe Project “Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine” jointly with the Ukrainian public organization “Association of Lawyers of Ukraine” and the USAID New Justice Program.
At the meeting, Ms. Diana Kovatcheva, the international expert of the Council of Europe, presented the preliminary Opinion on the compliance of the Rules of Procedure of the Public Integrity Council with the standards and recommendations of the Council of Europe.
The parties also had the opportunity to exchange views on the algorithm of collecting and processing information by the Public Integrity Council and to analyze the concepts and criteria of integrity in European countries and Ukraine.
The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine was represented by the Chairman of the Commission Mr. Sergii Koziakov, the Secretary of the Qualification Chamber of the Commission Mr. Stanislav Shchotka and the member of the Chamber for selection and public service of judges of the Commission Mr. Sergii Prylypko.
The event was also attended by the representatives of the Public Integrity Council, the High Council of Justice, the Council of Judges of Ukraine, by judges, scientists and representatives of public and international organizations.
Mr. Sergii Koziakov stressed that the main internal legal acts of the Commission within the framework of judicial reform were developed in close cooperation with international experts, in particular with the support of experts from the Council of Europe. He also thanked international projects for their desire to join the analysis of the Rules of Procedure of the Public Integrity Council.
During the first session, Ms. Diana Kovatcheva, the Deputy Ombudsman of Bulgaria, Doctor of international law and international relations, the international expert of the Council of Europe, described her vision on the activities of the PIC, provided valuable advice for further cooperation between the PIC and the Commission during the assessment of judges, noted an important role of the public in this process. In addition, Ms. Kovatcheva familiarized the audience with the recommendations on harmonization of the PIC`s and the Commission`s activity in the context of compliance with the Council of Europe's basic standards.
During the discussion on the topic “Algorithm of collecting and processing information by the Public Integrity Council” the member of the Commission Mr. Stanislav Shchotka told about the role and legal consequences of the opinion of the Public Integrity Council in the course of qualification assessment of judges.
