Ukraine ranks last in Europe for judicial independence: what the study showed

According to glavcom.ua: Ukraine participated for the first time in a large-scale survey of judges in Europe conducted by the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ). According to the results of the study, our country received one of the lowest scores for judicial independence, with only 5.9 points out of 10. Judge of the Northern Appeal Economic Court Marina Barsuk noted that this result serves as a signal for the judicial authorities.

«We evaluated our independence for the first time ourselves, but the results were a cold shower. 5.9 points out of 10 – this is the lowest indicator among 30 European countries. This is a signal that the judiciary cannot afford to ignore.»

The study showed that Ukrainian judges experience discomfort due to pressure from disciplinary accountability, which 39% of judges feel. This is the highest indicator in Europe, along with issues related to working conditions, which negatively impact the independence of judges.

The situation of pressure on Ukrainian judges

Ukrainian judges experience almost twice as much pressure from excessive workloads compared to their colleagues in Europe. This can impair their ability to analyze cases and make independent decisions. The study emphasizes the need to improve working conditions for judges and to reduce pressure on them to ensure greater independence in the judicial system.

In addition to Ukraine, 29 other European countries participated in the survey of judges, and the results indicate problems in the judicial system that require immediate regulation.