Ukraine: EU welcomes appointment of eight new members to the High Council of Justice

The EU has welcomed the recent appointment in Ukraine of eight new members to the High Council of Justice by the Congress of Judges. This allows this key judicial governance body to resume its work. 

The EU says it supports these significant efforts in consolidating the rule of law, despite the ongoing military aggression by Russia, and is looking forward to the continuation of this positive trend.

The EU is also closely monitoring the alignment of the reform of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) with the recommendations of the Commission’s opinion on the EU membership application of Ukraine to ensure  that this process is carried out in line with Venice Commission recommendations.

In particular, the Venice Commission Opinion published on 19 December recommends that (i) an exclusion of CCU candidates can also be done on the ground of professional competence (para 63), and (ii) that the number of the Advisory Group of Experts (AGE) should be increased to seven, with the 7th member coming from the international donors’ quota. 

“The European Commission expects Ukraine to align its legislation accordingly,” says a press release by the European Union External Action Service (EEAS). “By introducing these changes, Ukraine would not only advance on its EU membership process, but it will foster the trust of Ukrainian citizens in the country’s judiciary. Progress in judicial reforms remains vital for strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and the rule of law.”

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Press release