The Chairman of the Commission took part in a working visit of Ukrainian delegation to Strasburg
On 11–12 of September 2017, there was a two-day visit of Ukrainian delegation to Strasburg, France with the aim to participate in activities on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the ratification by Ukraine the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Ukrainian delegation was represented by the deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Mr. Oleksii Filatov, Minister of Justice of Ukraine Mr. Pavlo Petrenko, Government Commissioner for the European Court of Human Rights Mr. Ivan Lishchyna and the Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine Mr. Sergii Koziakov.
On the first day, 11th of September, members of the delegation took part in social events during which Mr. Pavlo Petrenko signed two Conventions of the Council of Europe: the Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property and the Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs.
During the roundtable the representatives of Ukraine also spoke on a theme “Justice Reform in Ukraine: strengthening the abilities of the national judicial system in the process of implementation of the Convention on law enforcement practice of the ECHR”, where the Special Representative of Secretary-General of the Council of Europe in Ukraine Mr. Regis Brillat was a moderator.
During the speech, the Chairman of HQCJ told about practical aspects of the fundamental changes implementation in the national judicial system, in particular about competition to the Supreme Court that was conducted by the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
Mr. Sergii Koziakov informed on final results of the competition and emphasized on the extraordinary transparency of all procedures and on the participation of international experts in this process, in particular experts of the Council of Europe, representatives of Diplomatic Institutions and Public.
“The Commission has held the first public competition to the highest court of the state and determined its 120 winners. Among them 16 academicians, 9 lawyers, 4 candidates with cumulative experience and 91 judges from different regions of the country with gender equality and high scientific level (34 candidates of science and 12 doctors of science). 80% of candidates who had negative opinions obtained from the Public Integrity Council was not included in the final rating list of the winners” – said Mr. Sergii Koziakov.
Mr. Pavlo Petrenko told about the general role of the European Court of Human Rights in the development of national judicial system and perspective of improving mechanism of implementation of its decisions.
Mr. Oleksii Filatov informed the roundtable members on adopted constitutional changes and other laws which strengthen the independence and effectiveness of justice in Ukraine.
On the second-day Ukrainian delegation met with official representatives and experts of the Council of Europe, which made possible to provide objective information on current progress in the judicial reform of Ukraine.
In particular, on 12th of September 2017 the Chairman of the HQCJ and other members of the delegation hold bilateral meetings with Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland, Director-General of the Directorate General for Human Rights and Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe Mr. Christos Giakomopoulos and the Head of Department of Justice and Legal Cooperation Ms. Hanne Junker.
Mr. Sergii Koziakov also met with the experts of the Council of Europe and discussed current results of reformation of the judicial system in the light of powers of the Commission.
The working visit of Ukrainian delegation to Strasburg was arranged with the support of the
Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the Council of Europe.
