Corporate governance in the context of European integration: the role of the courts

How is corporate governance in Ukraine evolving on the path to the EU – and what role does the judicial system play in this? These questions were the focus of discussions at the academic and practical conference ‘Corporate Governance in the Context of European Integration: Current Challenges for the Judicial System’, which took place on 17 April 2026 in Ternopil.

The event brought together representatives of the judiciary, academia, government bodies and international organisations, and was timed to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Ukraine’s system of commercial (arbitration) courts.

Key institutions were involved in the organisation, including the Supreme Court, the National School of Judges of Ukraine, the Commercial Court of Ternopil Region, relevant academic institutions and professional associations, with the support of international partners, including the EU ‘Pravo-Justice’ Project and the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine.

The discussion focused on the development of corporate governance in the context of European integration and the role of the courts in protecting corporate rights. Participants discussed how Ukrainian legislation is being adapted to European Union standards and the challenges this poses for judicial practice.

The conference programme was divided into four thematic sections, covering European integration requirements for corporate governance, the adjudication of corporate disputes—including standards of proof and the protection of shareholders’ rights—the transformation of the public sector of the economy, issues of corporate control, the liability of officers, and the introduction of innovative tools, in particular artificial intelligence.

Participants paid particular attention to discussing practical aspects – the harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with EU law, judicial review in corporate disputes, and the prospects for the development of corporate law in the context of post-war reconstruction.

The National School of Judges of Ukraine’s participation in the conference has practical significance – the findings will be taken into account when updating training programmes and preparing judges. This also helps to strengthen the link between judicial practice and the academic community.

Following the event, participants outlined further steps for cooperation and formulated practical recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of judicial