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.
- ADRAlternative dispute resolution
- APAction Plan
- APU/PAUPresidential Administration of Ukraine
- ASSETBTCBar Training Centre
- CBChamber of Bailiffs
- CCConstitutional Court
- ВНЗВищі навчальні заклади
- CCBECouncil of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
- CCLAPCoordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision
- CEISCriminal Executive Inspection
- CEPEJEuropean Commission for the Efficiency of Justice
- CJ/CoJCouncil of Judges of Ukraine
- CJR/JRSCouncil for Justice Reform (or Justice Reform Council)
- CoE CMCoE Committee of Ministers
- CoE/CoECouncil of Europe
- CPCouncil of Prosecutors
- CPEPerformance Evaluation Framework
- CSOCivil society organizations
- DCMISDetainee case management system
- DFATDDepartment of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada
- DG JustDirectorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commision
- DOJUnited States Department of Justice
- EaPThe Eastern Partnership
- ECHREuropean Convention on Human Rights
- ECJEuropean Court of Justice
- ECtHREuropean Court of Human Rights
- EPPEvaluation of Prosecutors’ Performance
- EU MSEU Member State(s)
- EUEuropean Union
- EUAMEuropean Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine
- FLAFree Legal Aid
- FoIFreedom of information
- GDPGross domestic product
- GOU/GoUGovernment of Ukraine
- HACHigher Administrative Court
- HCCHHague Conference on private international law
- HCJHigh Council of Justice of Ukraine
- HEIHigh educational institutions
- PCFCoE/EU Eastern Partnership Programmatic Co-operation Framework
- PDPPersonal data protection
- PEEPerformance effectiveness evaluation
- PEOPrivate enforcement officer
- PFMPublic financial management
- PGProsecutor General
- PMFPerformance Management Framework
- PPOPublic Prosecutor’s Office
- PPPPublic-private partnership
- PRPublic Relations
- QALAQuality and Accessible Legal Aid Ukraine Project
- RBCRegional Bar Council
- RPORegional Prosecutor’s Office
- PQDCsRegional Qualification and Disciplinary Commission
- SCSupreme Court
- SDPStrategic development plans
- SEPSector expenditure plan
- HELPEuropean Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals
- HQCHigh Qualification Commission
- HQDCHigher Qualification and Disciplinary Commission
- HRHuman Resources
- HRTFHuman Rights Trust Fund
- HSCHigher Specialised Court
- IMFInternational Monetary Fund
- IMSInformation management system
- IOPInteroperability
- INLUS Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
- IRZGerman Foundation for International Legal Cooperation
- ISInformation system
- ISDInternal Security Department
- JCsee CJ
- JITJoint investigative team
- JSRSJustice Sector Reform Strategy
- LPOLocal Prosecutor’s Office
- LPPLegal Professional Privilege
- M&E;Monitoring and evaluation
- MISManagement information system
- MOEMinistry of Education of Ukraine
- MOFMinistry of Finance of Ukraine
- MOHMinistry of Health of Ukraine
- MoI/MoIAMinistry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
- MOJ/MoJMinistry of Justice of Ukraine
- MORMinistry of Regional Development, Construction, and Communal Living of Ukraine
- MOUMemorandum of Understanding
- MSPMinistry of Social Policy of Ukraine
- MTBFMedium-term budgetary framework
- NACBNational Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
- NALSNational Academy of Legal Science of Ukraine
- NAPUNational Academy of Prosecutors of Ukraine
- NBCNational Bar Council
- NCPNational Conference of Prosecutors
- NPMNational Preventive Mechanism
- NSJNational School of Judges
- OSCEOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- SGSSelf-governance system
- SGUASupport Group for Ukraine
- SITSpecial investigative techniques
- SJAState Judicial Administration of Ukraine
- SJGBSingle Judiciary Governance Body
- SLAService-level agreements
- SOPStandard operating procedures
- SPSState Penitentiary Service of Ukraine
- SSUSecurity Service of Ukraine
- TCTraining Centre
- THBTrafficking in human beings
- TOTTraining of trainers
- UNBAUkrainian National Bar Association
- USAIDUnited States Agency for International Development
- USAID FAIRThe FAIR Justice Project of USAID
- VETVocational educational training
- WGWorking Group
Action | Implementation Deadline | Performance Criteria | ||||
End of 2016 | End of 2018 | End of 2020 | Measures/Outputs | Responsible Body / Means | Outcomes | |
Area of Intervention 7.1 Improved Bailiffs Governance System | ||||||
7.1.1 Strengthening balance of duties and powers within Bailiffs Governance System | 1. 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 - Conditions in place to allow gradual move towards wider scope of private model, with a view to complete privatisation of enforcement - Optimised stages of the enforcement proceedings and terms of exercising enforcement actions; safeguards in place against the refusal to - 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 - 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 - Partial harmonisation of licensing and oversight systems of bailiffs with other private professions in justice sector, including - Admission and licencing requirements for bailiffs determined; | |||
2. Internal control and monitoring body set up within private bailiffs’ corporation | CB /Decisions, rules | |||||
3. Reviewed regulatory framework on role of MOJ in regulation and oversight of enforcement system | CB, 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 operational | CB / 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 - - 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 - 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 operational | CB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, reports, statutes and rules amended | |||||
5. CB responsible body in charge of internal communications and external outreach and public relations | CB / Decisions, reports | |||||
6. Member surveys to determine level of satisfaction of bailiffs with CB services, including on-line questionnaires | CB / Decisions, surveys conducted | |||||
7. CB Annual Reports developed and disseminated | CB / Decisions | |||||
8. Cooperation network with European and international enforcement institutions fully operational | CB, MOJ / Decisions, MOUs, events, joint activities, visits | |||||
7.1.3 Development of ethics and disciplinary oversight system | 1. 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 - 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 - Enlarged list of disciplinary sanctions, including lesser sanctions such as fines, remedial measures, and educational measures, - Clear, foreseeable and applicable regulatory basis for online complaints, including disclosure of personal details of complainants, fees | |||
2. Code of Ethics annotated and regularly updated though consultative processes and communication coordinated by CB | CB / Decisions | |||||
3. Disciplinary rules and procedures reviewed though consultative processes and communication coordinated by CB | CB, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | |||||
4. Practice guide and training module on ethical and disciplinary framework developed, disseminated and updated regularly | CB, CBTC / Decisions, trainings | |||||
5. Online system for filing complaints against bailiffs fully operational | CB, MOJ / Decisions, practice guide, software in place, trainings | |||||
6. Statistics on disciplinary cases published and analysed in CB Annual Reports | CB / Decisions | |||||
Area of Intervention 7.2 Improved Professional Training System for Bailiffs | ||||||
7.2.1 Development of initial and continuing training systems | 1. 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 oversight | CB, 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.) - 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 tools | CBTC, 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 bailiff | 1. 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 | |||
2. Special taxation, health and social insurance status of bailiffs | CB, 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 decisions | Parliament, 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 debtor | 1. Reviewed regulatory framework on powers of bailiffs to reach debtor assets | Parliament, 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 - - 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 interests | Parliament, 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 management | CB, MOJ / Internal rules and procedures, practice guides, software in place, trainings, reports | |||||
7.3.3 Development of bailiffs’ information systems | 1. Internal bailiffs’ (CB/MOJ/bailiffs) electronic communication channels in place and used effectively | CB, 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
- 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).
- 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).
- 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).
- 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).
- 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%).
- 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).
- 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%).
- State financing of legal aid system at least at the CEPEJ average level in proportion to GDP (baseline: CEPEJ report for calendar year).
- 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 % 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).
- 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).
- 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).