Round table on the topic “Efficient functioning of justice in Ukraine and the judicial reform”
On 25 May 2016 the Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine Mr. Sergii Koziakov took part in the round table on the topic “Efficient functioning of justice in Ukraine and the judicial reform”, which was organized in the framework of the Council of Europe “Support to the Implementation of the Judicial Reform in Ukraine.”
The event was aimed to discuss the transformation and restructuring issues within the current processes of the judicial reform in Ukraine that lead to the appearance of a large number of vacancies of judges within the Ukrainian courts.
The participants of the round table included the representatives of the Parliament of Ukraine, Presidential Administration of Ukraine, Supreme and High Courts of Ukraine, High Council of Justice, High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, National School of Judges of Ukraine, universities, as well as representatives and experts of the Council of Europe.
The speakers on the efficiency of functioning of justice at the stage of judicial reform were Mr. Ruslan Sydorovych, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Mr. Konstiantyn Krasovskyi, Chief of the Head Department for Legal Policy of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine, Mrs. Maryna Klymenko, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Mr. Sergii Koziakov, Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine and Mr. Mykola Onishchuk, Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine.
While speaking on the activities of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, Mr. Segii Koziakov informed the participants about interim results of initial qualification assessment of judges and the main procedures carried out by the Commission to ensure the implementation of its mandate.
In addition, the Chairman of the Commission spoke about the challenges the Commission has faced with in connection with judicial reform.
Furthermore, Mr. Sergii Koziakov also emphasized on the large number of complaints received by the Commission and the overload of the Commission members and staff in implementing the procedures within initial qualification assessment of judges, launched by the Commission on 17 February this year.
Mr. Koziakov stressed on the need to organize the competition for the judicial positions to the Supreme Court of Ukraine in view of the critical importance to ensure the work of the Supreme Court of Ukraine for the sustainable development of the judicial system of Ukraine.
The participants also exchanged views on the functioning of the courts and the judiciary in result of the legislative changes in 2014-2015 and future Constitutional amendments in part of justice. The Member of the High Council of Justice Mr. Andrii Boiko made a speech on “The issue of appointment and dismissal of judges and disciplinary sanctions in respect of judges by the High Council of Justice.”
Mrs. Halyna Yurovska, professor, judge of the High Specialized Court of Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Matters told in detail about the institutional capacity of the National School of Judges of Ukraine.
The Chairperson of the judicial and law enforcement authorities’ organization department of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University Mrs. Lidiia Moskvych deliberated on functioning of courts and the attractibility of the profession of a judge in the context of judicial reform.
During the second session of the roundtable the participants had the opportunity to hear the recommendations of international experts from the Council of Europe Mr. Gerhard Reissner and Mr. Carsten Mahnke on how to ensure institutional sustainability of the judiciary and continuous functioning of justice in accordance with Council of Europe standards and relevant European practices during the future Reformation changes of the judicial system in Ukraine.
Reference:
The Project “Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine” is supported through the financial contribution of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and is a continuation of work of the Council of Europe on reforming the judicial system of Ukraine. It aims to ensure further approximation of Ukrainian judicial system to the standards and recommendations of the Council of Europe.
