On 25^th on May the round table “On efficient functioning of justice in Ukraine in the context of the judicial reform” was organized in Kyiv within the Council of Europe project “Support to the Implementation of the Judicial Reform in Ukraine”.

The event was attended by representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Presidential Administration, the Supreme and high specialized courts of Ukraine, the High Council of Justice, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, the National School of Judges of Ukraine, as well as of civil society organisations, high educational institutions, as well as representatives and experts of the Council of Europe.

At the round table the participants discussed the efficiency of functioning of the judiciary in the context of the judicial reform in Ukraine and the issues related to the qualification assessment of judges and the disciplinary proceedings.

The emphasis was put on the high number of vacancies in domestic courts, which potentially threatens the sustainability of judiciary and the access to justice. The representatives of national authorities, civil society and the Council of Europe experts suggested possible solutions to this problem, which will be summarized in the final document based on the results of the discussion, and distributed among the participants.

The Council of Europe project “Support to the Implementation of the Judicial Reform in Ukraine” is funded by a contribution from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and is a follow-up to previous efforts of the Council of Europe as regards the reform of judiciary. It aims at further approximation of Ukrainian system of judiciary to the standards and recommendations of the Council of Europe.