The management of the Commission took part in the meeting of the Eastern Partnership Panel on Rule of Law
On 4–6 of October 2017, the Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine Mr. Sergii Koziakov, Secretary of the Qualification Chamber of the Commission
Mr. Stanislav Shchotka, the Chairman of the High Council of Justice Mr. Ihor Benedysiuk as well as acting Director of the Coordination Center for Legal Aid Mr. Oleksii Boniuk took part in the working visit to Brussels.
The visit agenda foresees the participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the meeting of the Eastern Partnership countries, roundtable and meetings, where the main topic for the discussion is the implementation of judicial reform in Ukraine.
Today Mr. Sergii Koziakov and Mr. Stanislav Shchotka took part in the second meeting of the Eastern Partnership Panel on Rule of Law. Within Eastern Partnership Platform 1 on Democracy, Good Governance and Stability there were discussed judicial reforms in European countries.
The Chairman of the Commission described the procedures of the competition to the Supreme Court, as well as the experience of the HQCJ in holding the first in the history of Ukraine competition for the highest judiciary positions.
The selection procedure of judges in different countries, as well as written examinations and initial training, were discussed during the meeting.
Mr. Sergii Koziakov marked next important steps in reforming the judicial system, in particular, the upcoming plans in the activities of the Commission. He informed that the selection of candidates for local courts judges started in Ukraine. More than five thousand people addressed the Commission in order to take part in the selection. On 31st of October 2017, those who were admitted for participation in the selection, in the frameworks of the qualification exam, will write anonymous testing to check the level of general theoretical knowledge in the field of law and level of proficiency in the state language.
The Chairman of the HQCJ informed the delegations from other countries that the High Court on Intellectual Property will soon be established in Ukraine. The Commission has already announced the competition for occupying 21 vacant positions of a judge in this court.
In the subsequent sessions of the meeting, the accountability and effectiveness of the functioning of the judicial system were negotiated. The participants of the meeting discussed the adoption of effective disciplinary rules and codes of ethics in accordance with the European standards for judges and prosecutors, as well as peculiarities of the complaints mechanism available to the Public.
An important topic was the disciplinary proceedings against judges and cases against corruption at the highest level, increasing the level of Public trust in independence, impartiality, integrity, and accountability of the judiciary.
The visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Brussels took place under the support of the
European Commission.
