The Supreme Court Has Been Granted Observer Status in the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union

The decision was adopted by the General Assembly of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union in Brno (the Czech Republic) on October 14, 2022, which was attended by the President of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniaziev at the invitation of the President of the Network Bettina Limperg and the President of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic Petr Angyalossy.

For the Supreme Court, this is a significant event in the context of Ukraine's acquisition of the status of a candidate for EU membership. Active communication of the Supreme Court in the Network will contribute to closer cooperation with the supreme courts of the EU and to the approximation of Ukrainian court proceedings to the best European and world standards. This is necessary both for the implementation of the European integration policy of Ukraine and for the strengthening of the judiciary.

This was pointed out by the SC President Vsevolod Kniaziev during his speech at the General Assembly. He said that immediately after Ukraine received the status of a candidate member of the EU, the Supreme Court sent an official letter on granting observer status in the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the Member States of the European Union. And today this request is supported. "This is a historic day for us," the SC President noted. 

Vsevolod Kniaziev emphasized the fact that Ukraine had heroically resisted the treacherous attack of the Russian Federation for almost 8 months, and it was impossible to comprehend the depth of suffering that the occupier had brought to the Ukrainian land. The aggressor continues to launch massive rocket attacks on civilian infrastructure facilities and civilian homes. Such actions cynically violate international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes for which Russia should be held accountable.

"In the civilized world of the 21st century, an unprecedented war is being waged on the European continent, the purpose of which is the destruction of the Ukrainian nation and the destruction of the independent, sovereign state of Ukraine. This cannot be allowed. The international community must stand united against the enemy who will stop at nothing disregarding the Geneva Conventions, the Charter of the United Nations, international law", - the SC President is convinced.

Vsevolod Kniaziev thanked the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European States for the support provided, for the letters of solidarity and for the fact that from the first days of the full-scale invasion of Russia, they became a reliable support for Ukraine in protecting democratic postulates, independence and territorial integrity. "Ukraine's course remains unchanged. We are committed to European values: democracy, the rule of law and human rights," he assured.

The SC President added that, as a result of the war, the judicial system of Ukraine also received a heavy blow, and all judicial processes became more complicated. In addition to the main objective of the judicial process - fair justice - there also appeared an equally important requirement of the time: to ensure the safety of all participants in the proceedings, judges and court staff. There are other challenges as well: the underfunding of the judicial system, the need to restore court premises destroyed by military actions, and first of all, de-occupying the part of the territory of Ukraine and bringing back all those who were forced to put on military uniforms and stand up for the defence of their Motherland to peacetime work.

"The support of the international community, the support of our colleagues, our allies in the Supreme Courts is of utmost importance. After all, you are not only supporting Ukraine, you are defending all Europe. Only united we can overcome this evil," Vsevolod Kniaziev is convinced.

The General Assembly was convened to discuss Ukraine's request for membership and on the occasion of the colloquium of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union on October 13-15, 2022. The colloquium aims, inter alia, to highlight two main topics: "Judicial ethics, disciplinary proceedings and the responsibility of judges" and "How can supreme courts contribute to increasing the level of public trust in the judicial system?".

The participants of the colloquium were greeted by Petr Angyalossy and Bettina Limperg. Speakers included the Presidents of the Supreme Courts of the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Estonia, as well as the Vice President of the Court of Justice of the European Union Lars Bay Larsen.

During the working visit, the SC President Vsevolod Kniaziev held a series of bilateral meetings with the Presidents of the Supreme Courts of Germany, Estonia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Greece, France and the Vice President of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Iryna Hrihorieva, Judge of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court, and Lina Hubar, Head of the Division of International and Legal Cooperation, also joined the work of the colloquium.

The participation of the Ukrainian delegation was provided with the financial support of the EU Project Pravo-Justice.