The Supreme Courts of Ukraine and Latvia Continue Implementation of the Project to Support the Capacity of the Supreme Court in the Context of European Integration

“The national institutions of a country aspiring to become a member of the European Union must demonstrate the highest standards of freedom, equality, humanism, the rule of law and the protection of human rights. Cooperation with our Latvian colleagues is a significant contribution to bringing the judiciary of Ukraine in line with these standards,” said the President of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniaziev during the presentation of research papers within the framework of the project “Support for Strengthening the Capacity of the Supreme Court of Ukraine in the Context of European Integration” organized by the Supreme Court of Latvia, the State Judicial Administration of Latvia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.

The results of research conducted by Latvian experts in consultation with representatives of the Supreme Court cover, in particular, the transformation of the judiciary in the context of European integration, the principle of state responsibility in EU law, the role of national courts and their application of EU law.

The SC President stressed that the study of the issues was necessary in the process of improving the judiciary of Ukraine, and focused on the importance of applying the law of the European Union and the case law of the EU Court of Justice, since in the future national courts would face the need to use them in practice on a daily basis. In this context, studying the experience of Latvia is very valuable for Ukraine.

Vsevolod Kniaziev expressed his gratitude to the Government and people of Latvia for the help and support of Ukraine on its way to victory and membership in the EU, and welcomed Latvian colleagues with the Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia, which was celebrated on November 18. The SC President said that Latvia was one of the first countries to respond to the request for assistance after the brutal Russian attack.

The President of the Supreme Court of Latvia, Aigars Strupišs, said that according to Latvia's experience, after Ukraine's accession to the European Union, it would face new challenges and tasks. It is not only about bringing Ukrainian legislation closer to EU law and understanding approaches to its application, but also about building institutions, in particular the judicial system, in accordance with the requirements of the European Union.

"Ukraine will win this war and become a member of the EU. It is only a matter of time, and we are honored to help you in this process,” stressed Aigars Strupišs. 

The judge of the SC Grand Chamber Tetiana Antsupova thanked the Latvian experts who joined the research, and everyone who was working on the implementation of the joint project.

“If we talk about our readiness and ability to meet the Copenhagen criteria in their political part, then the experience of Ukraine's membership in the Council of Europe, as well as the application of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights by national courts will be useful. In addition, we are grateful that we can rely on the experience of our European neighbors, such as Latvia, in overcoming challenges on the difficult path to the membership in the European Union", said the judge.