Ruslan Stefanchuk addresses the Congress of Judges of Ukraine on the need to elect candidates to the High Council of Justice
11 January 2023, 12:33
On the eve of the XIX Congress of Judges on January 11-13, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk appealed to its delegates to elect eight members of the High Council of Justice from the judiciary to start its work.
He reminded that it is this state body that submits proposals for the appointment of judges, brings them to disciplinary responsibility and dismisses them from office, gives consent to detention or custody. In addition, as a result of the reform, the HCJ will also have to form a new composition of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, which is responsible for staffing the entire judiciary.
«That is why the formation of the HCJ according to the new rules is one of the conditions for the implementation of the recommendations provided to Ukraine with the status of an EU candidate and an important component for the opening of negotiations on EU accession.
At the same time, the launch of the HCJ is also a requirement of every Ukrainian, since only a judicial system functioning on the principles of independence, responsibility and accountability will be able to satisfy the society’s demand for justice and the rule of law, » Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
He appealed to the Congress of Judges of Ukraine and urged them to fulfil their part of the obligations and elect worthy candidates to the HCJ, recalling that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had fulfilled its part of the work in the summer by electing two members of the High Council of Justice.
«In spring we expect the report of the European Commission on the implementation of seven recommendations by Ukraine. We need an «excellent» grade! And for this, Ukraine must demonstrate the coordinated work of all state bodies and institutions! » the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed.