Ukraine strives to consistently and efficiently implement into life the recommendations of the Venice Commission aimed at harmonizing our country’s national legislation with the European norms and standards.
This was announced by the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ihor Kalyetnik during the meeting with the delegation of the Council of Europe headed by the Secretary of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) Thomas Markert on Friday.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada informed about the Parliament’s work on legislative acts aimed at further democratization of all the spheres of social life. In this context he discussed in detail the work on the legislative bill “On Prosecutor’s Office”. He also claimed that since Ukraine joined the Council of Europe, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, in cooperation with a range of European institutions, the Venice Commission being one of them, has elaborated a considerable number of documents which contain new standards of the Prosecutor’s bodies work that can be used to reform the Prosecutor’s office in Ukraine.
Ihor Kalyetnik hopes that in the nearest future the Venice Commission will send Ukraine expert opinions on this important bill. “We think that adoption of the new law will help make another step forward to the democratization of the Prosecutor’s bodies work, - he said. Reforming of law enforcement bodies will bring great benefit to the society”.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada informed that on Thursday the Parliament included to the agenda and sent to the Constitutional Court amendments to the Constitution concerning strengthening guarantees of judges’ independence, pointing out that 377 deputies voted for this decision. He also appointed the date of elections in five “problematic” districts.
“These are consistent steps that indicate that we are moving to the point when Ukrainian society and world community will see that the Verkhovna Rada has consolidation of political powers and all the past problems are gone,” – he said.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada also stressed that the process of amending the Constitution is “considerable, systematic and well though-out.”
Summing up, Ihor Kalyetnik emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s close cooperation with the Venice Commission and expressed his hopes for future cooperation with the Venice Commission in order to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with the international and European standards.
In his turn, Thomas Markert welcomed “positive steps that the Verkhovna Rada has made these days.” “The most important for us is the decision on sending to the Constitutional Court the amendments to the Constitution, - he stressed. This certifies that political parties can unite for the benefit of Ukraine.”
Thomas Markert characterized the draft law “On the Prosecutor’s Office” as “a great basis for a comprehensive reform of the Prosecutor’s Office” and expressed his hope that the Venice Commission will send the expert opinions as soon as possible.