Working visit of representatives of Ukrainian judiciary to the Council of Europe, 16-18 June, 2015
Ukrainian delegation with a working visit visited Strasbourg in order to discuss the process of judicial reform in Ukraine in the framework of the Council of Europe Project «Support to the reform of judicial responsibility in Ukraine» held from 16 to 18 June 2015.
Mr Sergii Koziakov, Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, Mr Yaroslav Romaniuk, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine and Ms. Alla Oliinyk, Member of the High Council of Justice were in the membership.
The delegation met with Mr Dean Spielmann, President of the European Court of Human Rights, Mr Eric Friberhom, Vice President of the ECHR, Mr John Darcy, advisor to the President of the ECHR, Mr Thomas Markert, Secretary of the Venice Commission and Ms. Anna Yudkivska, Judge to the ECHR with respect to Ukraine during the visit.
Representatives of the judiciary held working meeting with Ms. Hanne Juncker, Head of the Department of Justice and Legal Cooperation of the Council of Europe, Ms. Genevieve Mayer, Head of the Department of Execution of Judgments of the ECHR and Mr Stéphane Leyenberger, Head of the Division for the Independence and Efficiency of Justice involving Mr Mykola Tochyckyi, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe.
Ms. Mayer focused attention on the Paragraph 1, Art. 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights, according to which of the Council of Europe is committed to implement the decisions of the ECHR. Supervision of the implementation is carried out by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Execution of ECHR decisions is through the introduction of Member State measures of individual and universal.
Ms. Mayer stressed the failure of the European Court of Human Rights in cases against Ukraine, 30% of which is under special control of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and noted that it was crucial in addressing this issue through appropriate reforms, including institutional changes of judicial system of Ukraine.
In addition, attention was paid to selection procedures, appointment of judges, the structure and powers of the High Council of Justice and High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
European counterparts exchanged views with members of the Ukrainian delegation on the issue of amending the Constitution of Ukraine, stressing the importance of the sections of the Constitution of the judiciary and human rights.
On June 18 in the framework of the OSCE "Ensuring respect for human rights in the administration of justice" held a round table on "Constitutional dimension of judicial reform in Ukraine" with Council of Europe institutions responsible for cooperation with Ukraine in this field, and representatives of Council of Europe Projects on judicial reform in Ukraine.
Mr Oleksandr Nechytailo, Chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine, Mr Mykola Onishchuk, Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine, Ms. Nataliia Shuklina, Vice Rector on Scientific and Research Work of the National School of Judges of Ukraine, Judges of the Supreme Court of Ukraine and the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine joined with the delegation members.
Mr Christos Dzhakomopulos, Special Representative Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms. Hanne Juncker, Head of the Department of Justice and Legal Cooperation of the of the Council of Europe and representatives of the OSCE held a discussion with representatives of the judiciary reform Ukraine on the state of justice in our country in the context of the standards and recommendations of the Council of Europe.
