Judges can assure everyone who applies to court that justice is currently being administered in Ukraine in accordance with European standards - Supreme Court President

Almost two years have passed since russia unleashed an unprovoked war of aggression on the territory of our country. Obviously, one of the preconditions for this war was Ukraine's aspirations for European integration. And our country pays a very high price every day for that choice. We must therefore make every effort to achieve this strategic goal and demonstrate our commitment through our actions.

However, European integration is not primarily concerned with changing legislation and fulfilling formal requirements, but rather with a comprehensive shift in perspective. And education can be the driving force behind these changes. The powerful synergy of scientists, government officials, international partners and students opens up new opportunities for development and inspires further change for a better future.

Stanislav Kravchenko, President of the Supreme Court, made this statement at the International Conference "The Role of the Judiciary in Overcoming the Challenges of War".

As part of the special report, the Chief Justice noted that in 2023, the judiciary overcame several challenges. These included forming the authorized composition of the High Council of Justice, starting work on creating the HCJ Service of Disciplinary Inspectors, resuming the activities of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine after a four-year break, and launching the qualification assessment procedure.

The President of the Supreme Court also outlined the goals and objectives of the judiciary for the near future, among which he highlighted the proper consideration of criminal proceedings for war crimes and the effective judicial protection of the rights and interests of investors.

According to Stanislav Kravchenko, the digitisation of the judiciary is also in the spotlight. After all, the introduction of modern technologies in the work of the court, the possibility of administering justice remotely, is not only a matter of convenience, but also of the safety of the participants in court proceedings.

At the same time, one of the main tasks of the judiciary is to ensure access to justice. In this context, there is an important need to not only fill judicial positions but also to optimize the court system. It should be adapted to modern conditions, considering changes in demographics, enterprise relocation, and other relevant factors.

Stanislav Kravchenko also informed that in October of this year, the Supreme Court conducted an annual survey of visitors to the Court. One of the questions in the questionnaire pertained to trust. The majority of respondents (80%) trust the Supreme Court.

Finally, he noted that the key challenge for the upcoming years is the process of European integration. As you know, the European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Ukraine is committed to the same principles. Although respect for the rule of law does not depend solely on the judiciary, judges are the ones most expected to implement it.

In this context, the Chief Justice expressed his conviction that, despite all the difficulties, Ukrainian courts and judges can assure everyone who applies to the court that justice in Ukraine is now being administered in accordance with European standards.