A round-table on the adoption of ethical rules for constitutional court judges in Ukraine brought together representatives of Ukrainian authorities, judges, legal professionals, and Council of Europe experts. The aim is to establish a set of ethical rules grounded in four key principles: independence, impartiality, integrity, and accountability. The adoption of such rules is an important requirement of the European integration process.
The development of these ethical rules is a requirement by law in Ukraine, noted Oleksandr Petryshyn, Acting President of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU), who confirmed that the drafting process is already underway.
Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, highlighted the importance of finalising this process, stating that: “Clear ethical rules are key to judicial independence and public trust. They may seem of secondary importance—until a challenge arises. By adopting them now, Ukraine’s Constitutional Court strengthens its legitimacy and resilience. The Council of Europe stands ready to support this process with European expertise and best practices”.
The participants agreed that the swift adoption of clear and enforceable standards for CCU judges is crucial despite the challenges posed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as it will prevent potential risks and strengthen support for the court as an independent and respected institution.
The event was organised with the support of the Constitution Court of Ukraine.
This event is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Support to development of the constitutional justice in Ukraine”.
