In the course of the meeting the attention was focused
on issues of judicial reform in Ukraine regarding implementation of the Council
of Europe Resolution "Functioning of Democracy Institutes in Ukraine", passed
in October 2010. Namely the participants of the meeting discussed issues of
further improvement of legislation on judicial proceedings and also reforms in criminal
procedures, legislation on prosecution and advocacy.
Serhii Kivalov, Chairman of the Committee on Justice reminded that in January 2011, the President of Ukraine through his Decree adopted the Plan of Actions to meet obligations of Ukraine emerging from it membership in the Council of Europe which envisage: drafting with the consideration of Venice Commission findings the bill on amendments to the Law "On Judicial Proceedings and Status of Judge"; provide monitoring in the Parliament of the bill on court fees; provide monitoring in the Parliament of the bill on advocacy.
S. Kivalov also informed delegation members on the work of the Committee headed buy him in general and on course of judicial reform in particular.
Moreover, Chairman of the Committee declared that the bill which shall enlarge powers vested in the Supreme Court of Ukraine is being prepared in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for the second reading. The bill shall be submitted for the parliamentary scrutiny in two weeks with the findings of the Venice Commission.
"Within the next couple of weeks we shall complete work upon the draft Code of Criminal Proceedings and it shall be registered in the Verkhovna Rada before the summer holidays in the parliament", announced S. Kivalov.
The
attention was also focused on the future Constitution reforms in Ukraine. The
Parties emphasised the necessity to implement amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine
for the further improvement of judicial system that would set up fundamentals
of the jury system pursuant to the recommendations of the Venice Commission of
Ukraine and European standards.
Co-Rapporteur of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin expressed her gratitude for the meeting that, according to her words, shall facilitate drawing a report of the Monitoring Committee and suggested Ukrainian government agencies "hold consultations with expertise of the Council of Europe regarding new Code of Criminal procedure."
The Parties stressed efficiency of the conversation and stated the meeting was held in time and called for the further dialogue.