A working meeting on the implementation of judicial reform was held at the President’s Office of Ukraine on October 7, during which the issues of resuming the work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) and the procedure for electing members of the High Council of Justice (HCJ) were discussed.
Representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, the President’s Office, the Supreme Court, the Council of Judges, as well as representatives of the embassies of the G7 countries and the European Union in Ukraine took part in the working meeting, the presidential press service said on October 7 evening.
“We are unshakable in the need to implement the adopted legislation as soon as possible on the basis of the existing norms,” said Serhiy Ionushas, head of the Commission on Legal Reform under the President of Ukraine.
He also stressed that the selection of candidates for the Ethics Council remains an important issue.
Chairman of the Council of Judges of Ukraine Bohdan Monych noted that the Council of Judges of Ukraine continues to work on the determination of candidates for the Ethics Council. He expressed hope that at the end of October the Council of Judges will hold interviews with the candidates.
“Representatives of the judicial branch of government at the stages of preparation, adoption, and implementation of laws spoke about certain shortcomings, contradictions and the need for some changes. At the same time, we never put the implementation of the reform depending on whether changes were made. This is evidenced by the fact that the Supreme Council of Justice launched this reform in a timely manner, without any delay,” Chairperson of the Supreme Court Valentyna Danishevska said, commenting on the preparation of the work of the HQCJ and HCJ.
Anastasia Radina, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy, focused on the issue of the appeal of the plenary session of the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Court to verify compliance with the Constitution of the norms of the law on the procedure for electing and appointing members of the High Council of Justice. For her part, the Chairperson of the Supreme Court noted that this appeal will in no way delay further steps to implement the judicial reform.
James Roed-Moore, First Secretary for Political Affairs of the British Embassy in Ukraine, urged to continue the process of forming the Ethics Council and the selection of candidates for the High Qualifications Commission of Judges.
Manfredas Limantas, Head of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Sector of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, stressed that the Ethics Council should start its work as soon as possible so that the implementation of the judicial reform continues.
