On August 26, 2025, the Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, Andrii Pasichnyk, and the members of the Commission, Vitalii Gatseliuk and Oleksii Omelian, held the second working meeting with representatives of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
GIZ was represented by the Implementation Manager of the “Strengthening Ukraine’s EU Accession in the Rule of Law” (3*E4U) Project, Johannes Uhl, the Team Leader Policy and Legal Advice, Artem Shaipov, and the Project Lawyer, Ilona Boliubash.
The meeting was a continuation of the previously established cooperation between the institutions and was devoted to discussing joint activities within the framework of implementing the Roadmap on the Rule of Law, namely the step to improve the model for reasoning the Commission’s decisions.
The Commission’s Chairman Andrii Pasichnyk welcomed the GIZ delegation and thanked them for their willingness to provide comprehensive support to the HQCJU. He reported on the Commission’s main achievements since it resumed its work in 2023, explained the specifics of the procedures implemented by the body, and presented key performance indicators. In his speech, the Chairman of the Commission focused on the challenges facing the domestic justice system today and the important mission of the Commission in forming a corps of professional and integrity-minded judges, which ensures the stable functioning of the judicial system and brings Ukraine closer to the European Union.
During the meeting, the implementation manager of the 3*E4U Project, Johannes Uhl, noted the Commission’s openness to cooperation and willingness to work systematically to strengthen the institutional capacity of the institution. He highly appreciated the results of the HQCJU’s work, which are impressive given the scale of the tasks and limited time frame. Mr. Uhl confirmed GIZ’s readiness to continue supporting the Commission, as he believes that this will contribute to improving the quality and transparency of judicial procedures in Ukraine.
With regard to the practical aspects of implementing the Roadmap for improving the reasoning section of Commission decisions, the participants determined the procedure for engaging experts to analyse decisions and develop relevant recommendations. The issue of conducting specialised training and educational events to master the best European practices in reasoning decisions was considered separately.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties confirmed their shared commitment to further developing their partnership, which focuses on strengthening the institutional capacities of the Commission and its secretariat, effectively sharing experience, integrating modern practices, and systematically improving the qualifications of employees.
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The GIZ initiative “Strengthening Ukraine’s EU Accession in the Rule of Law” (3*E4U), which runs from 2024 to 2026 with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office, assists Ukraine in adapting its legislation to the EU standards. The project involves the work of an expert platform, the exchange of experience, and the provision of training and consultations for state institutions.
