Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin met with Secretary General of the European Ombudsman Institute Josef Siegele

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Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin met with Secretary General of the European Ombudsman Institute Josef Siegele

 

 

 On April 12, 2016 Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin met with Secretary General of the European Ombudsman Institute Josef Siegele.

The meeting was also attended by Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights (1998-2012), Deputy Chairman of the Union of Lawyers of Ukraine NinaKarpachova, and Chairman of the Union of Lawyers of Ukraine Valerii Yevdokymov.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Joseph Siegele presented the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin with a collective monograph "European Heart of Human Rights", dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the European Ombudsman Institute (EOI) which was published in Ukraine in four languages ​​(English, Spanish, German, and Russian) under the joint editorship of the Secretary General of the European Ombudsman Institute Josef Siegele and Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights (1998-2012) Nina Karpachova.

For the first time, the monograph examines the genesis of the European Ombudsman Institute, its impact on the formation and development of the system of national institutions of human rights protection in Europe, based on international standards. It summarises the experience and national peculiarities of legal status and practice of ombudsman institutions in Europe in terms of current challenges to human rights and freedoms.

 Mr. Joseph Siegele noted, that the idea of ​​this publication belongs toN.Karpachova, and as EOI Secretary General, he fully supported her because, in his opinion, it is very important to find a way of understanding and cooperation with the Ombudsman not only in the European Union countries but also in countries that represent historical old Europe. The publication successfully combines both scientific and practical component, and it was very important to show the standards of competence in the field of human rights in different countries in which the Ombudsman institution operates, said Josef Siegele.

During the meeting, Nina Karpachova emphasised that there is a separate section in the publication dedicated to cooperation of the Ukrainian ombudsman with the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.

Yurii Baulin noted, that the Constitutional Court of Ukraine has always enjoyed good relations with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights.

During the meeting Josef Siegele provided information related to the activities, powers and the history of the Constitutional Court of theRepublic of Austria, its cooperation with international organisations and other institutions. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Austriaenjoys high respect in society and among politicians, since the decisions it adopts are of high quality, said Mr.Siegele. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Austria has extensive contacts with many institutions in Europe, including the constitutional courts and the European Court of Human Rights, the Court of Justice of the European Union and others, added the EOI Secretary General. J. Siegele also expressed his readiness to assist in strengthening cooperation between constitutional courts of Ukraine and Austria.

Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin informed that in October 2016 the Constitutional Court of Ukraine will mark its 20th anniversary and will organise an international conference. Yu. Baulin said that President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Austriais on the list of invitees, and he hopes that M.r Holzinger will be able to participate in this event.

 During the meeting, Chairman Baulin spoke about the powers of the sole body of constitutional jurisdiction in Ukraine, the Court’s composition, the procedure of its formation,  forms of address to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, subjects of constitutional proceedings; he said that Ukraine today is on the eve of introducing amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, in particular regarding justice, and one of those changes is the introduction of the constitutional complaint in Ukraine, as well as the removal of the official interpretation of laws from the powers of the Constitutional Court.  Cases pending before of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, regarding social rights, pensions of judges, language policy were also touched upon.

During the meeting Valerii Yevdokymov recalled that he and Nina Karpachovaparticipated in drafting the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine "On the Constitutional Court of Ukraine", according to which the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Leonid Yuzkov (1992-1995) was elected, as well as being the people's deputies of Ukraine they took the decision on establishment of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the Institute of Ombudsman, the Accounting Chamber, the Supreme Council of Justice and others.

In conclusion, the parties thanked each other for a meaningful conversation and expressed the hope for further fruitful cooperation.