Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, discussed with a delegation of the Venice Commission the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations regarding the selection of judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the implementation of anti-oligarchic legislation and legislation on national minorities (communities).

Opening the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked the delegation for their visit to Kyiv, which would allow the Venice Commission to discuss all current issues with representatives of various branches of government and civil society. The official noted the significant work done during the previous consultations at various levels, during which an understanding was reached on the vast majority of issues.

The meeting was attended by Venice Commission President Claire Bazy Malaurie, Vice-President Angelika Nussberger, Venice Commission members Philip Dimitrov and Jan Velaers, Venice Commission Secretary Simona Granata, and Legal Adviser Tania Van Dijk. The Ukrainian side was represented by Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denys Maliuska, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy Denys Maslov, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelenskyi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevhen Perebyinis, and Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Yevhen Kudriavets.

“For the first time in Ukraine, a competitive process is being introduced to select judges for the Constitutional Court. Our absolute priority is to ensure a transparent and open competition in accordance with the best standards. We are approaching this issue with full responsibility and are aware of its importance, in particular for Ukraine’s further progress towards EU membership. The draft law submitted to the Verkhovna Rada was prepared in consultation with the Venice Commission. International experts will play a crucial role in assessing the moral qualities and integrity of candidates. This is an important safeguard that will prevent candidates who do not meet the integrity criteria from participating in the next stages of the competition,” said Olha Stefanishyna.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed the importance of launching the selection process as soon as possible and called on the Venice Commission to nominate its representatives to the Advisory Group after the amendments to the law on the selection of candidates for the post of Constitutional Court judge are adopted.

The Ukrainian side informed the Venice Commission representatives about the measures and steps taken to implement the legislation on the protection of national minorities (communities). In particular, a draft Concept of the Targeted National and Cultural Programme “Unity in Diversity” until 2034 will be submitted to the Government in the near future, and work on the content of the relevant programme has begun. Representatives of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience noted that more than 16 consultation meetings with representatives of national minorities (communities), NGOs and indigenous peoples of Ukraine had already been held.

The participants of the meeting also discussed the educational and cultural rights of representatives of national minorities (communities) and the use of languages of national minorities (communities) in the public sphere.

With regard to the implementation of anti-oligarchic legislation, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the importance of taking into account the special conditions which Ukraine was currently facing due to russia’s full-scale war. She also informed about the steps being taken to strengthen economic competition, including amendments to antitrust legislation in line with EU law.