Ukraine granted observer status in European Network of Councils for the Judiciary

MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian High Council of Justice (HCJ) has been granted observer status in the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ), which is an important factor of Ukraine's integration with the European Union, Ukrainian media have reported with reference to the HCJ.

"The General Assembly of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary has decided to grant the High Council of Justice observer status," the HCJ said in a statement on its website on Thursday, referring to its Chairman Grigory Usik, who is currently present at the General Assembly in Slovenia's Ljubljana.

"The pivotal decision was made in response to the HCJ's request," the statement says.

Usik said the decision is crucial for Ukraine's integration with the EU. "Cooperation with the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary is a unique opportunity for establishing direct contacts with representatives of more than twenty councils for the judiciary of EU member states and candidate countries to share experiences and best practices concerning the functioning of the judicial branch," Usik said.

The HCJ views the ENCJ as a unique platform to study European practices and share its own record of the functioning of the judiciary to improve its efficiency and uphold human rights in Ukraine, it said.

The ENCJ was set up in 2004 to bring together all councils for the judiciary of the EU member states and represent them in the EU. It is comprised of national institutions of the EU member states which are independent of the executive and legislative branches and are responsible for supporting the judiciary in the independent delivery of justice.