The SASG attended the plenary meeting of the Constitutional Commission of Ukraine on 15 May. He also participated in the Constitutional Commission’s working groups concerning decentralization of power and the constitutional aspects of the functioning and independence of the judicial system.

In total, four Council of Europe experts have been named members to the Constitutional Commission: Ms Hanna Suchocka, on behalf of the Venice Commission, Mr Alain Delcamp, representing the Congress of Local and Regional authorities of the Council of Europe, Mr Francesco Palermo, in his capacity as Chair of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and the Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Ukraine, Christos Giakoumopoulos.

The Council of Europe is confident that the Constitutional Commission will take due account of the recommendations made by the Venice Commission during the last months and years, as well Council of Europe standards and obligations deriving from instruments to which Ukraine is a Party, including judgments of the European Court of Human Rights against Ukraine. Constitutional reform is crucial for Ukraine's future. It will establish the foundations for democratic institutions that are close to the citizens, will set the basis for a well-functioning and independent judiciary and for the respect of human rights of everyone in Ukraine.