On April 07, 2026, a working meeting was held at the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine with representatives of the “Strengthening Ukraine’s EU Accession in the Rule of Law” Programme (3*E4U), which is funded by the EU and the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)).
The aim of the working meeting was to agree on priorities for further cooperation between the HQCJ of Ukraine and the 3*E4U Programme regarding the implementation of the steps set out in the Rule of Law Roadmap for 2026–2027, as well as to identify practical support mechanisms to ensure the proper implementation of the planned measures.
It is worth noting that this working meeting was a logical continuation of the cooperation already established through previous collaboration between the Commission and the Programme, particularly with regard to implementing the step in the Roadmap dedicated to improving the reasoning behind the Commission’s decisions. The results of this cooperation have laid the groundwork for a shift from discussing individual initiatives to providing more comprehensive support for the priority areas of institutional development of the collegial body of judicial governance.
The working meeting was attended by Andrii Pasichnyk, the Chairman of the Commission; Oleh Koliush, the Deputy Chairman of the Commission; Oleksii Omelian and Ruslan Sydorovych, members of the Commission, as well as staff from the Commission’s Secretariat – Taras Neshyk, Deputy Head of the Commission’s Secretariat; Oleh Rybchuk, Director of the Judicial Career Department, and Yuliia Reminska, Head of the International Cooperation Division. The Programme was presented by Artem Shaipov, Head of the Legal and Political Advisory Team, and Veronika Kreidenkova, Legal Advisor.
Andrii Pasichnyk, the Chairman of the Commission, noted the previous effective cooperation with the Programme, highlighting its practical value for the Commission’s work. He emphasised that, given the experience already gained, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine welcomes the continuation of such cooperation, particularly with regard to the implementation of the steps set out in the Roadmap. The provision of expert and advisory assistance strengthens the Commission’s capacity to implement relevant measures effectively and helps bring domestic practices closer to European Union standards.
In turn, Artem Shaipov emphasised that the Programme is keen to expand and consistently support the HQCJ, particularly in areas relating to the implementation of measures under the Rule of Law Roadmap, for which the HQCJ is responsible and which are of systemic importance for the development of the judicial system and the improvement of judicial career procedures.
The substantive discussion between representatives of the Commission and the Programme covered a range of topical issues. In particular, the discussion focused on Roadmap measures such as improving competitive procedures, conducting audits of the activities of judicial administration and self-governance bodies to eliminate duplication of powers, clarify competences and improve their operational procedures, as well as the regular assessment of judges and the completion of procedures for assessing judges’ suitability for their positions.
The working meeting demonstrated a shared understanding of the importance of coordinated and consistent steps in implementing the measures of the Rule of Law Roadmap. The HQCJ highly values the 3*E4U Programme’s readiness for further cooperation and expert support, which will contribute to strengthening the Commission’s institutional capacity, improving its procedures and ensuring the proper fulfilment of tasks in the field of judicial reform. This model of cooperation forms a solid foundation for achieving goals relevant to national interests in the field of justice reform and the implementation of Ukraine’s European integration agenda.
