Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/480

Contents

NoReform/ InvestmentName of the stepTimelineStep description3.1Reform 1.Enhancing the accountability, integrity and professionalism of the judiciaryFiling of at least 20 % of judicial vacancies are filled in.Q32025At least 20 % of judicial vacancies available as of 16. October 2023 (a total number of 2205 positions) is filled on the basis of amended legislation, which includes the following elements:

—streamlined stages of selection and shortened mandatory judicial training periods;

—clarification of the content of the integrity declarations and the grounds for initiating the verification;

—prevention of bankruptcy and restoration of solvency of debtors

—simplified out-of-court and bankruptcy procedures for MSMEs (including individual entrepreneurs);

—clear assessment criteria, including professional competence and integrity/ethics;

—specification of disciplinary offences related to the conduct of prosecutors and their compliance with ethical standards, and expansion of the list of available disciplinary sanctions to increase their proportionality and effectiveness;

—consistent application of clear and duly published assessment criteria and scoring methodology for assessing professional competence and integrity of judicial candidates;

—expansion of the time period covered by the verification;

—early detection of signs of crisis in the company

—availability of insolvency tools and services of insolvency practitioners for MSMEs;

—transparent, competitive and meritocratic selection procedure that includes a credible professionalism and integrity check;

—amending the provisions on the composition of the QDCP to ensure that the majority of seats are held by prosecutors elected by their colleagues and conducting an independent and objective procedure for the pre-selection of all candidates for members of the QDCP, which includes verification of their integrity;

—involvement of the Public Integrity Council in assessing the integrity of judicial candidates whenever the law requires it.

—improvement of the verification procedure by specifying the verification mechanisms and deadlines, defining the rights and obligations of the persons and entities involved in the verification process, clarifying the legal consequences of the verification.

—identification of additional opportunities for restoring solvency of companies

—prevention of abuse of insolvency procedures by MSMEs.

—strengthening the institutional capacity and the powers of the Prosecutor’s Office and the self government bodies, in particular the Council of Prosecutors, in terms of selecting prosecutors for senior positions.

—increasing the efficiency of disciplinary proceedings by extending the statute of limitations.

—availability of information for the companies about the mechanisms for preventing insolvency and early warning.

3.2Reform 1.Enhancing the accountability, integrity and professionalism of the judiciaryEntry into force of the law establishing a new court to hear administrative casesQ32025The law on the establishment of the Specialised District Administrative Court and the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal entered into force and a transparent selection of judges in line with the adopted legislation is launched.3.15Reform 1.Enhancing the accountability, integrity and professionalism of the judiciaryA new court to hear administrative cases is operationalQ42026The Specialised District Administrative Court and the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal become operational.3.3Reform 1.Enhancing the accountability, integrity and professionalism of the judiciarySettlement/adjudication of 20 % of old disciplinary cases not considered as of end of 2023Q4202520 % of old disciplinary proceedings (complaints) not considered as of 31 December 2023 are settled/ adjudicated with the involvement of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service and on the basis of the criteria for prioritisation of disciplinary complaints consideration, provided for in clause 13.7 of the Rules of Procedure of the High Council of Justice (as amended on 21 November 2023, No 1068/0/15-23) that are published on the official website of the High Council of Justice.3.4Reform 1.Enhancing the accountability, integrity and professionalism of the judiciaryCompletion of the qualification evaluation (vetting) in respect of 50 % of judges who still had to undergo it as of 30 September 2016Q42025Qualification evaluation (vetting) is completed in respect of 50 % of judges who still had to undergo it as of 30 September 2016 in line with the established procedures and with the involvement of the Public Integrity Council.3.5Reform 1.Enhancing the accountability, integrity and professionalism of the judiciaryEntry into force of the legislation revising the declarations of integrity of judges and their verification processQ22025Entry into force of the laws and the bylaws of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine revising the declarations of integrity of judges and their verification process. The acts focus on these main areas:3.6Reform 2.Reforms of insolvency and enforcement of court decisionsEntry into force of the legislation on the improvement of insolvency regimeQ42024Entry into force of the law on the improvement of insolvency regime and the relevant secondary legislation, introducing insolvency prevention system and the early warning tool for legal entities and entrepreneurs in line with the principles of Directive (EU) 2019/1023 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on preventive restructuring frameworks, on discharge of debt and disqualifications, and on measures to increase the efficiency of procedures concerning restructuring, insolvency and discharge of debt, and amending Directive (EU) 2017/1132. The new legislation focuses on these main areas:3.7Reform 2.Reforms of insolvency and enforcement of court decisionsEntry into force of the legislation for simplified insolvency procedures for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)Q12026Entry into force of the legislation for simplified insolvency procedures for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in line with the principles of the Directive (EU) 2019/1023 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on preventive restructuring frameworks, on discharge of debt and disqualifications, and on measures to increase the efficiency of procedures concerning restructuring, insolvency and discharge of debt, and amending Directive (EU) 2017/1132. The legislation is drafted based on a regulatory impact assessment with the involvement of EU experts. The legislation focuses on these main areas:3.8Reform 2.Reforms of insolvency and enforcement of court decisionsEntry into force of the legislation on improving the enforcement of court decisions related to monetary and non-monetary obligations and digitalisationQ22025Entry into force of the law on the enforcement of court decisions related to monetary and non-monetary obligations and further digitalisation of the enforcement proceedings.3.9Reform 2.Reforms of insolvency and enforcement of court decisionsA data collection system on the enforcement of court decisions is operationalQ42025A data collection system on the enforcement of court decisions is operational.3.10Reform 2.Reforms of insolvency and enforcement of court decisionsAn upgraded IT system for enforcement of court decisions is operationalQ22026The upgraded IT system for enforcement facilitating enforcement process, debtor asset tracking, bank account freezing and debt recovery is operational.3.11Reform 3.Digitalisation of the judicial systemSet up of IT solutions in the judicial systemQ42027The introduction of the subsystem of the Electronic Document Management of the Unified Judicial Information and Communication System in 15 pilot courts of general, commercial and administrative jurisdiction at the level of first and appellate instances.3.12Reform 4.Reform of the Prosecution ServiceEntry into force of the legislation enabling transparent and merit-based selection of management-level prosecutorsQ12026Entry into force of the legislation enabling transparent and merit-based selection of management-level prosecutors. This legislation focuses on these main areas:3.13Reform 4.Reform of the Prosecution ServiceEntry into force of the legislation improving the disciplinary system for prosecutors and increasing the capacity of the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of ProsecutorsQ32026Entry into force of the legislation improving the disciplinary system for prosecutors and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors (QDCP). The improved legal and institutional framework aimed at implementing GRECO recommendations focuses on these main areas:3.14Reform 4.Reform of the Prosecution ServiceAn e-Case Management System in the criminal justice is operationalQ42026The criminal justice e-Case Management System’s system-forming module, electronic criminal proceedings module, and case analysis module are operational, enabling digital processing of criminal cases and gradually replacing/significantly upgrading the outdated Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations.