11 June, 2026
On 9 June 2026 Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Oleksandr Petryshyn and judges of the Court held a meeting with Mathias Steinebach, Director of the “Strengthening Ukraine’s EU Accession in the Rule of Law” Programme implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Participating judges included Yurii Barabash, Oleksandr Vodiannikov, Viktor Gorodovenko, Viktor Kychun, Vasyl Lemak, Alla Oliinyk, Oleg Pervomayskiy, and Petro Filiuk. The meeting was also attended by Johannes Uhl, Head of the Programme’s Rule of Law Component.
The discussion focused on the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap, which outlines a package of reforms under Ukraine’s European Union accession process, as well as on international support for strengthening the institutional capacity of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Petryshyn highlighted the productive cooperation between the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and GIZ and briefed the guests on the Court’s mandate, structure and key areas of activity. He noted that, within the framework of the Rule of Law Roadmap, the Court remains committed to strengthening its independence and institutional capacity. “Strengthening the rule of law, safeguarding judicial independence and advancing democratic institutions are not only integral to European integration but also essential to Ukraine’s resilience in the face of the ongoing armed aggression against our state,” Oleksandr Petryshyn said.
Mathias Steinebach underscored the importance of coordinated efforts and practical measures to ensure the effective implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap. He noted that Ukraine faces a demanding path towards EU membership and reaffirmed his readiness to support the country throughout the accession process.
During the meeting, the participants exchanged views on current challenges related to upholding the rule of law amid Russia’s ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine. They also discussed the role of constitutional review in protecting fundamental rights, strengthening the rule of law and maintaining a balance between the branches of government.
The judges emphasised the importance of cooperation and the exchange of experience among constitutional courts, both for introducing international best practices in Ukraine and for helping the international community better understand the challenges Ukraine faces on its path towards EU membership. They noted that Ukraine’s experience of developing constitutional law in wartime is unique in Europe.
Particular attention was devoted to future areas of cooperation, including strengthening the Court’s institutional capacity, enhancing the professional development of Secretariat staff, improving decision-making methodologies, expanding expert engagement in joint events, broadening professional networks and developing new formats for exchanging experience. The participants stressed the importance of establishing long-term partnership mechanisms.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming the value of continued dialogue and expressing their readiness to deepen cooperation in support of the development of constitutional justice in Ukraine and the implementation of rule of law reforms.
