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Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine
The EU has welcomed the adoption in the final reading of constitutional amendments related to the judiciary by the Verkhovna Rada in Ukraine yesterday. In a joint statement, EU HRVP Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn assessed this fact as a crucial step towards strengthening the Ukrainian judiciary, improving its efficiency, safeguarding its independence and impartiality, and combating corruption.
"We look forward to the implementation of a comprehensive reform of the judiciary enabled by today's vote. In this context, the EU remains committed to support the Ukrainian authorities in delivering concrete results swiftly.
We hope today's vote will create momentum for the adoption in the final reading of the pending constitutional amendments related to decentralisation and other important reforms," Mogherini and Hahn stated.
The President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, Gianni Buquicchio, also welcomed the news: “I am very happy that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted this crucial reform with an overwhelming majority. All those who voted for the reform have shown their readiness to act responsibly in the interest of the country. The decision shows that, despite a difficult situation, the country is capable of carrying out major reforms. The Venice Commission has worked on this reform for many years. It is a source of deep satisfaction for me that our efforts were finally crowned by success. This is a major step forward for Ukraine, bringing it closer to the effective implementation of European standards of the rule of law. Implementing the reform will not be easy, but the first step has now been made,” Buquicchio said.
Opening the plenary session, Andrii Parubii, Verkhovna Rada President, stressed the importance of the judicial reform: "We have to approve amendments to the Constitution in the part of the judiciary and the judicial system. Today we expect, without any exaggeration, a historic day. The day when we adopt the amendments to the Constitution in the part of the judiciary and the judicial system." Parubii noted that it is a matter of national security for Ukraine. "Whatever reforms we do - they are beat against corrupted courts. Today in Ukraine there is the lowest confidence in courts. According to the Razumkov Centre - 81 percent of citizens do not trust the courts. This is one of the worst rates in the world,” said Andrii Parubii and added, referring to his colleagues – “We have a chance to change it all. "
Ukrainian society has showed strong demand for efficient, accessible, transparent and modern justice. Such aspirations certainly require changes and development of the judiciary, as well as its reform. In Ukraine there is a political will to do so.