Ukraine, UK Agree to Cooperate in the Field of Justice
The Ministries of Justice of Ukraine and the United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of justice.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the website of the Ukrainian Ministry.
‘This Memorandum is not just a document. It is a recognition of the deep significance of cooperation between Ukraine and the UK, which goes beyond military or diplomatic support. Our partnership includes joint work on reforms and the development of a fair and effective justice system.
At a time when Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom, but for the peace and security of the whole of Europe, your presence here is a symbol of the solidarity, courage and support of the British people. This is a powerful message: The UK stands with Ukraine in this common struggle,’ commented Olha Stefanishyna, Minister of Justice of Ukraine.
The memorandum was signed by Liudmyla Sugak, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine for European Integration, and Sarah Sackman, Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice of the United Kingdom.
‘We sincerely thank our British partners for their willingness to engage in dialogue and support at such a difficult time for Ukraine. Our countries have a deep history of cooperation, and this Memorandum is another step towards strengthening it. I am convinced that the interaction between our ministries will open up new opportunities,’ Sugak said.
The Memorandum establishes a long-term partnership and provides for the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices. In particular, in the areas of court administration, digitalisation, support for vulnerable groups in the justice system, reform of the penitentiary system, development of alternative dispute resolution, and access to justice.
The document takes into account the specifics of the challenges faced by Ukraine as a result of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation and the need to accelerate reforms in the justice sector.
The Memorandum outlines seven key areas of cooperation, including support for the independence of the judiciary, promotion of modern technologies, development of mediation and arbitration, and deepening cooperation between the legal sectors of both countries.
A separate clause of the document provides for the preparation of an Action Plan for the implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum, which will be reviewed and updated annually in accordance with changes in needs and priorities.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on 14 April, the United Kingdom disbursed 752 million pounds ($990 million) to Ukraine under the Group of Seven loan facility using frozen Russian assets.