On November 09, 2023, the Chairman of the Commission Roman Ihnatov, the Deputy Chairman of the Commission Ruslan Sydorovych, the Head of the Commission’s Secretariat Olena Ponomarenko and other members of the Commission held a regular working meeting with the Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the G7 countries.
Mr. Ihnatov greeted the participants and provided a detailed overview of the procedures carried out by the new composition of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine during the five months of its work. The Chairman of the Commission also told about the plans and priorities of the HQCJ for 2024.
In this context, Ruslan Sydorovych outlined the short-term activities that the Commission plans to complete in 2023. He also listed the challenges that the Commission may face in implementing its plans and expressed hope that cooperation with international partners will help to achieve a common goal of ensuring overall access to justice and the Rule of Law.
The Ambassadors of the G7 Countries noted the successes of the Commission, despite the short duration of its new composition. They pointed out that restoring public trust in the judiciary and the judicial reform itself are top priorities for Ukraine as a country candidate for accession to the European Union. The promotion of the establishment of the Public Council of International Experts, as a part of the expected announcement of the selection of judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court and the need for active cooperation with the Public Integrity Council were also discussed.
The G7 Ambassadors unanimously agreed to continue supporting the activities of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine through its cooperation with relevant international technical assistance projects.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Mr. Matsuda Kuninori thanked the leadership and the members of the Commission for the organization of the meeting and assured that the Group of the G7 Ambassadors is ready for a permanent dialogue.
As a reminder, on June 27, 2023, the newly established High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine met with the Ambassadors of the G7 countries for the first time.
