Meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Ambassador Jan Tombiński
On December 21, 2012 the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Anatolii Holovin held a meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine 
Ambassador Jan Tombiński.
Mr. Chairman greeted the guest and thanked the Ambassador for accepting invitation to visit the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to get acquainted with the activities of the sole body of constitutional jurisdiction in Ukraine. During the conversation, Chairman Holovin briefly informed the interlocutor with the 16-year history of the formation of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, its competencies, the legislative principles of the appointment of judges, the procedure of consideration of constitutional petitions and constitutional appeals as well as other aspects of the Court’s activities.
In particular, Mr. Chairman focused on examination of constitutional appeals of citizens and legal entities in the context of ensuring the protection of social rights, and mentioned the 
discussions concerning the implementation of the constitutional complaint in Ukraine. Mr. Holovin also noted that the fundamental activities of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine are performed in line with the constitutional jurisdiction of the European countries.
Mr. Chairman drew the Ambassador’s attention to such important aspects as openness and transparency of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to public. All information and training materials aimed at providing legal aid to citizens are posted on the official website of the Constitutional Court. In addition, the Court holds regular excursions, during which visitors can view the premises of the Court, talk to experts, learn more about the general workflow etc.
Special attention was paid to the international activities of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, including interaction with European constitutional courts, the Venice Commission, other human rights institutions. The prolific and fruitful character of this cooperation could be seen on a number of partnership Memoranda signed with European constitutional courts during past year, which enable wide exchange of practical, scientific and methodological expertise.
Mr. Holovin invited Ambassador Tombiński to participate in scientific and practical conference on the protection of human and citizens’ rights by bodies of constitutional jurisdiction to be held next year in Ukraine. Mr. Chairman also 
expressed the wish to intensify cooperation between the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, which will contribute to the effective protection of constitutional rights and freedoms.
In his turn, Ambassador Tombiński thanked Mr. Holovin for participation of a representative of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the solemn ceremony on the occasion of the Nobel Peace Prize for the European Union. According to the Ambassador, this award is a great event for the European Union, which is committed to solve social problems, assert the rule of law and guarantee human and citizens’ rights and freedoms. Mr. Tombiński also noted the important role played by the constitutional courts in the EU states, and mentioned that one of the most difficult tasks for constitutionalists is the problem of equality of social rights for citizens’.
During the meeting the Ambassador was interested in controversial issues for Ukraine such as introducing amendments to the Constitution of 
Ukraine, control over the expenditures of the budget, the implementation of judicial reform, and the process of formation of a new legal culture in the country. Upon the request of Mr. Tombiński Mr. Chairman shared his views on judicial reform in Ukraine, including the Law "On the Judicial System and Status of Judges", enactment of the new Criminal and Procedural Code, issues of combating corruption and other hot topics.
Chairman Holovin also showed to the Ambassador the session hall and museum exhibition of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. Mr. Tombiński thanked Mr. Holovin for the warm welcome and wished the Constitutional Court of Ukraine success in the upcoming year.
