Advocacy as part of the Ukrainian delegation took part in the EU accession negotiations

On September 17-19, the second EU-Ukraine bilateral session is taking place in Brussels (Belgium) as part of the screening of the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law. The agenda includes reports in three blocks: «Judiciary», «Anti-Corruption Policy» and «Fundamental Rights».

The meeting between representatives of the European Commission and Ukraine is taking place in a mixed (offline and online) format and is dedicated to the negotiated Title 23 «Judiciary and Fundamental Rights». Experts call it one of the most important in the negotiation process.

Savva Kuzmenko, Director of the Higher School of Advocacy, took part in the session. He spoke about the unique status of the independent bar as part of the justice system in Ukraine, the relevant Law «On the Bar and Practice of Law», which once received a favorable opinion from the Venice Commission on compliance with European standards. He outlined the system of professional self-government bodies, emphasizing that the Ukrainian Bar is independent, self-governing and not funded from the state budget.

S. Kuzmenko also spoke about the role of the Ukrainian State Bar Association, which is a training platform for the continuous professional development of lawyers, the creation and conduct of trainings, and the establishment of international relations, including with the Council of Europe's HELP educational platform, the CCBE and other professional associations.

The negotiating section, which is the subject of the session, covers EU law and policies in the areas of independent and effective judiciary; prevention and fight against corruption as a threat to the stability of democratic institutions and the rule of law; fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by EU treaties, the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights: children's rights, protection of persons reporting violations of EU law, protection of personal data, procedural rights and guarantees, rights of victims of crime, combating racism and xenophobia, freedom of expression, non-discrimination, protection of Roma rights, gender equality, rights of persons with disabilities, rights of citizens of EU member states.

The Ukrainian delegation, headed by the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna, includes about three hundred participants (MPs, representatives of state authorities and other institutions).