On June 25, the Center of Policy and Legal Reform, as part of USAID RADA: Next Generation, organized an expert discussion on "Constitutional oversight in European states: Formation of independent constitutional oversight bodies."
Jeff Lehrer, Deputy Director of the USAID Mission to Ukraine, emphasized the importance of constitutional oversight: "The Constitution is more than a legal document. It is the promises and commitments that the state makes to its citizens. Constitutional oversight is crucial in protecting democratic values, human rights, and balancing the branches of government. And it is a great honor for USAID to support Ukraine in establishing independent constitutional oversight bodies."
In his welcoming remarks, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed gratitude to the participants for their contributions: "I am pleased to be at a meeting with well-known experts. These are people who work through certain things and give answers to very uncomfortable questions. I want today's discussion to generate the right decisions because the right decisions are the key to effective decisions that the state will then make."
The discussions featured dozens of leading experts, including judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. They explored the practices of forming independent constitutional oversight bodies in Europe and examined models of these bodies based on parliamentary quotas.
Marten Ehnberg, Chief of Party of the USAID RADA: Next Generation, highlighted the significance of learning from international practices: "In European countries, independent constitutional oversight bodies ensure that constitutional principles are upheld even during political turbulence. Strengthening constitutional oversight in Ukraine could positively impact its democratic development. It will help strengthen the rule of law, increase trust in Ukrainian institutions, and create a stable political environment."
You can watch the expert speeches and discussions in the video broadcast.
