The Ethics Council Should Carry Out and Organize Its Work So As Not to Cause Any Disruption in the Work of the High Council of Justice - the President of the Venice Commission

During a working meeting on the state of implementation of judicial reform which took place at the Office of the President yesterday, the President of the Supreme Court Valentyna Danishevska acquainted the participants with the letter of the President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio which was sent to her on September 29, 2021.

In his letter to the SC President, Mr. Buquicchio draws attention to the fact that "achieving an independent judiciary in Ukraine is a goal which the Venice Commission shares with you and with the Ukrainian people."

"It is our common concern and of the utmost importance that the High Council of Justice start exercising its constitutional functions in an efficient and independent manner as soon as possible. It is equally important that the High Qualification Commission of Judges should be set up and become operational as soon as possible," says the document. It is therefore an absolute priority that "the Ethics Council should be constituted as soon as possible" and the candidates from the Council of Judges of Ukraine should be appointed to it.

In his letter, Gianni Buquicchio also addresses the issue of ensuring the continuity of the work of the High Council of Justice throughout the period of judicial reform:

"The Ethics Council should carry out and organize its work so as not to cause any disruption in the work of the High Council of Justice".

He expressed confidence that that would be the case.

"It is the responsibility of all to implement the judicial reform," stresses the President of the Venice Commission.

Please find the full text of the letter from the President of the Venice Commission in two languages. The Ukrainian translation is provided by the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine. 

The text of the letter of the President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio in Ukrainian.

The text of the letter of the President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio in English.