A compilation of case law relating to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was presented in Kyiv

During the presentation of the Case Book on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, organised with the support of the EU ‘Pravo-Justice’ Project and attended by representatives of the judiciary, the legal community and international experts, Mykola Onishchuk, Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine, emphasised the importance of systematically integrating European Union law into Ukrainian judicial education and law enforcement practice.

According to the rector, the National School of Judges of Ukraine, in collaboration with international partners, notably the EU ‘Pravo-Justice’ Project, has been working consistently for some time to integrate EU law into the professional training of judges. He emphasised that European Union law has already become a subject of study and should be applicable in everyday judicial practice in Ukraine.

Mykola Onishchuk noted that the presentation of the Case Book is another important step towards bringing the Ukrainian justice system closer to European standards, particularly in the practical application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The rector also highlighted that the School has implemented not only methodological but also institutional changes in the study of EU law. In particular, a Training Laboratory for the Study of European Union Law has been established for judges, judicial assistants and other representatives of the justice system. According to the head of the NSJU, this approach is unique even among EU candidate countries and is already regarded as a positive example of organisational policy in the field of judicial education.

The Rector highlighted the practical value of the compiled collection of judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning the application and interpretation of the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU: “This publication will help Ukrainian judges gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the EU legal system and apply European human rights standards more effectively in the administration of justice.”

During his speech, Mykola Onishchuk also highlighted the complementary nature of two key European documents in the field of human rights protection – the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. At the same time, he emphasised the importance of fostering a ‘friendly relationship’ between different legal systems and taking into account the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union in national law enforcement.

Furthermore, the Rector thanked international partners and experts who support the development of judicial education in Ukraine, singling out the contribution of Virgilijus Valančius, an international expert with the EU “Pravo-Justice” Project, to disseminating knowledge of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union among Ukrainian judges.

In conclusion, Mykola Onishchuk expressed his hope that the new Case Book would become a practical tool for Ukrainian judges and a ‘go-to reference’ on the application of European human rights standards and European Union law.

During the event, researchers and experts from the EU ‘Pravo-Justice’ Project, Tetiana Komarova and Tetiana Anakina, presented a collection of papers on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the context of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Participants paid particular attention to a panel discussion on the role of the EU Charter in the work of Ukrainian judges and lawyers. Key topics included the legal community’s awareness of European standards, the relationship between the EU Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights, and the practical challenges of applying the Charter’s provisions in the national justice system.

Representatives of the Supreme Court, the courts of appeal, the National School of Judges of Ukraine and the Training Centre for Prosecutors of Ukraine took part in the discussion.

The presentation marked another important step in the process of integrating European legal standards into the practice of Ukrainian courts and the training of legal professionals in the context of Ukraine’s European integration.