Chapter 7

Improving Enforcement System

The efforts to move from the State-run enforcement system towards a private bailiff profession reflect the general trend in EU MS and other countries of the region. At the same time, this shift would necessitate step-by-step review of the regulations, which will allow building of necessary institutional and regulatory capacities for a smooth transition towards complete privatisation, based inter alia on the successful experience in introducing the private profession of notaries in Ukraine. In this respect, a complete overhaul of the regulatory framework, defining new roles for private and State (MOJ) actors in regulation, licencing and oversight of the system, giving adequate powers to bailiffs to seek debtor assets and claim injunctions in courts, improving standards of procedural fairness, promotion of mediation role of bailiffs, optimising distribution of cases, improving ethical and disciplinary systems, improve usability and interoperability of enforcement information systems, develop risk management and analysis capabilities, enhance professional training system, and ensure greater visibility of services provided by bailiffs through awareness raising.

Shortcuts
  • ADR
    Alternative dispute resolution
  • AP
    Action Plan
  • APU/PAU
    Presidential Administration of Ukraine
  • ASSETBTC
    Bar Training Centre
  • CB
    Chamber of Bailiffs
  • CC
    Constitutional Court
  • ВНЗ
    Вищі навчальні заклади
  • CCBE
    Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
  • CCLAP
    Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision
  • CEIS
    Criminal Executive Inspection
  • CEPEJ
    European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice
  • CJ/CoJ
    Council of Judges of Ukraine
  • CJR/JRS
    Council for Justice Reform (or Justice Reform Council)
  • CoE CM
    CoE Committee of Ministers
  • CoE/CoE
    Council of Europe
  • CP
    Council of Prosecutors
  • CPE
    Performance Evaluation Framework
  • CSO
    Civil society organizations
  • DCMIS
    Detainee case management system
  • DFATD
    Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada
  • DG Just
    Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commision
  • DOJ
    United States Department of Justice
  • EaP
    The Eastern Partnership
  • ECHR
    European Convention on Human Rights
  • ECJ
    European Court of Justice
  • ECtHR
    European Court of Human Rights
  • EPP
    Evaluation of Prosecutors’ Performance
  • EU MS
    EU Member State(s)
  • EU
    European Union
  • EUAM
    European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine
  • FLA
    Free Legal Aid
  • FoI
    Freedom of information
  • GDP
    Gross domestic product
  • GOU/GoU
    Government of Ukraine
  • HAC
    Higher Administrative Court
  • HCCH
    Hague Conference on private international law
  • HCJ
    High Council of Justice of Ukraine
  • HEI
    High educational institutions
  • PCF
    CoE/EU Eastern Partnership Programmatic Co-operation Framework
  • PDP
    Personal data protection
  • PEE
    Performance effectiveness evaluation
  • PEO
    Private enforcement officer
  • PFM
    Public financial management
  • PG
    Prosecutor General
  • PMF
    Performance Management Framework
  • PPO
    Public Prosecutor’s Office
  • PPP
    Public-private partnership
  • PR
    Public Relations
  • QALA
    Quality and Accessible Legal Aid Ukraine Project
  • RBC
    Regional Bar Council
  • RPO
    Regional Prosecutor’s Office
  • PQDCs
    Regional Qualification and Disciplinary Commission
  • SC
    Supreme Court
  • SDP
    Strategic development plans
  • SEP
    Sector expenditure plan
  • HELP
    European Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals
  • HQC
    High Qualification Commission
  • HQDC
    Higher Qualification and Disciplinary Commission
  • HR
    Human Resources
  • HRTF
    Human Rights Trust Fund
  • HSC
    Higher Specialised Court
  • IMF
    International Monetary Fund
  • IMS
    Information management system
  • IOP
    Interoperability
  • INL
    US Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
  • IRZ
    German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation
  • IS
    Information system
  • ISD
    Internal Security Department
  • JC
    see CJ
  • JIT
    Joint investigative team
  • JSRS
    Justice Sector Reform Strategy
  • LPO
    Local Prosecutor’s Office
  • LPP
    Legal Professional Privilege
  • M&E;
    Monitoring and evaluation
  • MIS
    Management information system
  • MOE
    Ministry of Education of Ukraine
  • MOF
    Ministry of Finance of Ukraine
  • MOH
    Ministry of Health of Ukraine
  • MoI/MoIA
    Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
  • MOJ/MoJ
    Ministry of Justice of Ukraine
  • MOR
    Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, and Communal Living of Ukraine
  • MOU
    Memorandum of Understanding
  • MSP
    Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine
  • MTBF
    Medium-term budgetary framework
  • NACB
    National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
  • NALS
    National Academy of Legal Science of Ukraine
  • NAPU
    National Academy of Prosecutors of Ukraine
  • NBC
    National Bar Council
  • NCP
    National Conference of Prosecutors
  • NPM
    National Preventive Mechanism
  • NSJ
    National School of Judges
  • OSCE
    Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
  • SGS
    Self-governance system
  • SGUA
    Support Group for Ukraine
  • SIT
    Special investigative techniques
  • SJA
    State Judicial Administration of Ukraine
  • SJGB
    Single Judiciary Governance Body
  • SLA
    Service-level agreements
  • SOP
    Standard operating procedures
  • SPS
    State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine
  • SSU
    Security Service of Ukraine
  • TC
    Training Centre
  • THB
    Trafficking in human beings
  • TOT
    Training of trainers
  • UNBA
    Ukrainian National Bar Association
  • USAID
    United States Agency for International Development
  • USAID FAIR
    The FAIR Justice Project of USAID
  • VET
    Vocational educational training
  • WG
    Working Group
ActionImplementation DeadlinePerformance Criteria
End of 2016End of 2018End of 2020Measures/OutputsResponsible Body / MeansOutcomes
Area of Intervention 7.1
Improved Bailiffs Governance System
7.1.1 Strengthening balance of duties and powers within Bailiffs Governance System1. Reviewed statutory framework, setting up ‘mixed’ enforcement system involving private enforcement officer (PEO) institution. Chamber of Bailiffs (CB) fully operational to govern private limb of profession.CB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended- ‘Mixed’ enforcement system in place,

- with private profession of bailiff created and certain role left for State authorities in enforcement and alternative disputes in some
administrative and socially-sensitive civil cases (alimony, childcare, eviction etc.);

- Conditions in place to allow gradual move towards wider scope of private model, with a view to complete privatisation of enforcement
services by reference to experience in reform of notary services

- Optimised stages of the enforcement proceedings and terms of exercising enforcement actions; safeguards in place against the refusal to
start enforcement proceedings for formal reasons

- Effective incentives in place for volunteer exercise of court decisions and influencing the debtor

- Institutional enforcement governance system (incl. regional) allowing for requisite decree of self-governance by PEOs

- Practical and effective conditions in place for equal competition between private and State-run limbs of enforcement system

- More effective use and distribution of private bailiffs membership fees, to promote independent and efficient governance

- Increased independence and efficiency of governance (including disciplinary) bodies within bailiffs’ corporation

- National Chamber of Bailiffs (CB) set up as main governance body of private bailiffs’ profession; regional Chambers set up taking into
account local socio-economic realities

- Streamlined powers of CB an MOJ, with limited, clear and foreseeable role of MOJ in regulation, licencing and oversight of profession

- Active cooperation of MOJ and CB in developing policy and legislative initiatives with regard to enforcement system, including definition
and review of required number and competences of bailiffs

- Partial harmonisation of licensing and oversight systems of bailiffs with other private professions in justice sector, including
advocates and notaries

- Admission and licencing requirements for bailiffs determined;

2. Internal control and monitoring body set up within private bailiffs’ corporationCB /Decisions, rules
3. Reviewed regulatory framework on role of MOJ in regulation and oversight of enforcement systemCB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended
7.1.2 Development of strategic planning, budget and financial management, human resources management, public relations and communication
capacities
1. CB Strategic Planning and Institutional Development Committee fully operationalCB / Decisions, Reports- Internal and external monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanisms and review reports attest satisfactory implementation of strategic
planning within bailiffs corporation

- CB and bailiffs provide regular and constructive inputs for major policy and regulatory initiatives related to justice sector reform

- Improved use of CB resources and funds

- Adequate financial resources for CB to effectively perform its role in promoting independence, accountability and competence of bailiffs

- Internal communication channels (including electronic workflow system and web-portal) between CB, bailiffs, and other State/non-State
actors in justice sector formalised and used regularly

-

- Consistent response of CB to any interference with independence of bailiffs and violations of their rights

- Bailiffs participation in decision-making processes of other justice sector institutions when interests of bailiffs are affected

- Clear procedures for public access and participation at certain CB meetings in place, including timely prior announcement of meeting
agendas, publication of CB decisions with regard to enforcement governance system, etc.

- User satisfaction surveys used regularly by CB to measure and improve quality of member services

- Regular exchanges between CB/MOJ and European and international counterparts

2. Dedicated staff dealing with strategic planning, including policy development, mission statement, budgeting and financial management,
human resources, information resources, public relations and communication and outreach
CB / Decisions, contracts, job descriptions, placement plans, trainings
3. Practice guides and training modules on strategic planning, budget and financial management, human resources management, public
relations and communication, and use of information systems developed, disseminated and updated regularly
CB / Decisions, trainings
4. Bailiffs Audit Commission fully operationalCB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, reports, statutes and rules amended
5. CB responsible body in charge of internal communications and external outreach and public relationsCB / Decisions, reports
6. Member surveys to determine level of satisfaction of bailiffs with CB services, including on-line questionnairesCB / Decisions, surveys conducted
7. CB Annual Reports developed and disseminatedCB / Decisions
8. Cooperation network with European and international enforcement institutions fully operationalCB, MOJ / Decisions, MOUs, events, joint activities, visits
7.1.3 Development of ethics and disciplinary oversight system1. CB Ethics and Discipline Committee fully operational, responsible for development, implementation compliance, improvement of ethical
standards for bailiffs, and enforcement of ethical/disciplinary rules
CB / Decisions, reports- Ethics/disciplinary framework with sound and implemented substantive requirements and procedural rules, public access

- Clear, foreseeable, and applicable delineation of ethical rules (positive obligations, principles of behaviour) from disciplinary rules
(negative prohibitions, grounds for reprimand)

- Consistent application in practice of ethics/disciplinary rules by CB

- Financial responsibility of private bailiffs to CB by way of due payment of membership fees enshrined among key ethical rules

- Delineation and application of principles of proportionality and mitigating and aggravating factors in disciplinary cases

- Right of access to disciplinary case-file by bailiff concerned, scope and extent of obligation to provide information to third parties
and public about pending disciplinary cases defined

- Enlarged list of disciplinary sanctions, including lesser sanctions such as fines, remedial measures, and educational measures,
consistently and fairly applied

- Clear, foreseeable and applicable regulatory basis for online complaints, including disclosure of personal details of complainants, fees
to be paid

2. Code of Ethics annotated and regularly updated though consultative processes and communication coordinated by CBCB / Decisions
3. Disciplinary rules and procedures reviewed though consultative processes and communication coordinated by CBCB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended
4. Practice guide and training module on ethical and disciplinary framework developed, disseminated and updated regularlyCB, CBTC / Decisions, trainings
5. Online system for filing complaints against bailiffs fully operationalCB, MOJ / Decisions, practice guide, software in place, trainings
6. Statistics on disciplinary cases published and analysed in CB Annual ReportsCB / Decisions
Area of Intervention 7.2
Improved Professional Training System for Bailiffs
7.2.1 Development of initial and continuing training systems1. CB Training Centre (TC) fully operational, in charge of implementation of initial and continuous training systems, including management body responsible for setting policy, ensuring operations, and carrying out oversightCB, CBTC / Decisions, reports, curricula, trainer contracts, job descriptions, placement plans in place, trainings- CB empowered to deliver training for bailiffs

- Optional nature of initial training system for bailiffs; conditions in place for eventual move towards mandatory initial training system

- CB annual continuous training curricula and sound methodology of training in place

- CBTC carrying out training on a regular basis

- Initial and continuing training courses for bailiffs and other legal professionals (lawyers, judges, prosecutors, notaries etc.)
approximated, some curricula and courses harmonised

- Problem-based approach to training

- Continuous training system for bailiffs’ staff in place

- On-line and distance learning training available

- Key initial and continuing training subjects include international human-rights standards,

- Permanent pool of well-trained and experienced trainers, including trainers from regions, fully and regularly mobilised

- Application of penalties and other practical consequences for failure to take continuous training

- Experienced legal practitioners, including European and international counterparts, among regular trainers

2. Initial and continuing training curricula, including distance learning courses, developed, updated regularly and placed in electronic
libraries
CBTC, CB / Decisions
3. Reviewed regulatory framework on access to the profession, including initial training, internships, professional exam, licensing, etc.CB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended
4. Training needs, capacity and quality assessment mechanisms in place and used, including automated toolsCBTC, CB/ Decisions, practice guides, software in place, trainings
Area of Intervention 7.3
Improved Conditions for Practical and Effective Exercise of Profession of Bailiff
7.3.1 Improvement of socio-economic, financial, and operational conditions for exercise of profession of bailiff1. Reviewed regulatory framework for civil, administrative and criminal liability of bailiffs. Indemnity fund set up to assume civil
responsibility for malpractice on behalf of whole corporation
CB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended- System for malpractice insurance and indemnity fund in place to cover civil liability of private bailiffs

- Favourable taxation regime for private bailiffs (tax regime of individual entrepreneurs under uniform tax system)

- Reviewed principle of the state bailiff’s remuneration by establishing direct proportion between the remuneration and results of
enforcement of court decisions

2. Special taxation, health and social insurance status of bailiffsCB, MOJ, MOF, , MSP, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended
3. Reviewed principle of bailiff’s proportional remuneration with regard to results of enforcement of court decisionsParliament, CB, MOJ, MOF / Decisions, statutes and rules amended
7.3.2 Promotion of efficiency of enforcement, while strengthening balance in protection of rights of creditor and debtor1. Reviewed regulatory framework on powers of bailiffs to reach debtor assetsParliament, CB, MOJ/ Decisions, statutes and rules amended, practice guides- Bailiffs practically enabled to reach debtors assets

- Scope and extent of judicial control over any activities of bailiffs limited to very limited cases of necessity to protect fundamental
fairness;

-

- Courts-practice attests qualified approach to personal data protection with regard to any actions of bailiffs,

- Stages and terms to kick-start enforcement process optimised to allow no unjustified refusal

- Effective incentives for voluntary enforcement of court decisions and sanctions against unwilling debtor in place

2. Reviewed regulatory framework on procedural safeguards of debtor interestsParliament, CB, MOJ / Decisions, statutes and rules amended, practice guides
3. E-filling of enforcement requests and e-notification of all key procedural steps as part of enforcement electronic case managementCB, MOJ / Internal rules and procedures, practice guides, software in place, trainings, reports
7.3.3 Development of bailiffs’ information systems1. Internal bailiffs’ (CB/MOJ/bailiffs) electronic communication channels in place and used effectivelyCB, MOJ / Decisions, MOUs, feasibility study, Master Implementation Plan, practice guides, hardware and software in place, review reports, trainings- Practical and effective use of IS by CB to advance independence, competence and accountability of CB and bailiffs

- Interoperability of CB and bailiffs’ IS with those of other justice sector actors,

[9] For more detailed analysis on interventions in coordinated management of information systems and interoperability, see Sub-Chapter 4.2 below.

Impact Indicators for Chapters 5-7

  1. User satisfaction surveys (conducted by sector stakeholders, or by external observers) attest increased access to justice in general, and performance of legal aid, Bar, bailiffs, notaries and ADR system in particular (baseline: 2015; suggested 2016 target - increase by 5%; 2018 target - increase by 15%; 2020 target - increase by 25%; targets to be split by institution/type of service).
  2. Trial monitoring surveys conducted by external observers attest improvement of affairs in access to justice in general, and quality of legal representation in particular (baseline: 2015).
  3. 10 % annual decrease in number of structural violations found by ECHR with regard to right to court, fairness of proceedings or defence rights (baseline: relevant ECHR judgments pronounced in 2015; only pilot judgments or repetitive cases taken into account).
  4. 5 % annual decrease in number of cases at ECHR establishing breach of right to court, fairness of proceedings or defence rights (baseline: relevant ECHR judgments pronounced in 2015).
  5. Improved implementation of general measures in view of any ECHR judgment regarding breach of right to court, fairness of proceedings or defence rights (baseline: number of pending cases before COE CM where general measures are indicated at end of 2015; suggested 2018 target - total decrease by 15%, decrease of enhanced supervision cases by 25%; 2020 target - total decrease by 25%, decrease of enhanced supervision cases by 35%).
  6. 20 % annual decrease in findings by COE CM on failure to enforce individual measures in any ECHR judgment regarding Ukraine establishing breach regarding right to court, fairness of proceedings or defence rights (baseline: 2015).
  7. Annual progress in enforcement of final court judgments in civil and administrative (excluding misdemeanour) matters (baseline: all final court judgments on 1 January 2016; suggested 2016 target - 50% of total final court judgments in civil cases enforced within legally established timelines; 2018 target - 60%; 2020 target – 70%).
  8. State financing of legal aid system at least at the CEPEJ average level in proportion to GDP (baseline: CEPEJ report for calendar year).
  9. Legal aid provided in at least 10% of civil and 20% of administrative (excluding misdemeanour) cases (baseline: pending litigious civil and administrative cases at material time).
  10. 10 % annual increase of cases in ADR (baseline: same point in time one year ago for which annual statistics available; targets to be split per type of ADR/type of process).
  11. Ukraine’s standing in various relevant international indices relating to access to justice improves, including Governance Indicators and Rule of Law Index (World Bank Institute), WEF Global Competitiveness Report, rankings by Freedom House, World Justice Project (Rule of Law Index), Transparency International (CPI etc.), Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (BTI), WB Doing Business Index (baseline: 2015).
  12. Acknowledgement of Ukraine’s progress in ensuring access to justice noted in EU reports and various policy dialogue documents, such as Association Agreement and Visa Liberalisation Action Plan implementation reports (baseline: 2015).