Deputy Justice Minister participates in Eastern Partnership Platform on Rule of Law meeting

On October 4-5, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, Vigen Kocharyan, participated in the meeting of the First Eastern Partnership Platform on Democracy, Good Governance and Stability organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers in Brussels. Directions for developing and raising efficiency of the international co-operation in the process of reforms of the justice sector, as well as the experience of Eastern Partnership countries in the sector of judicial and legal reforms were the subject of the discussion.

During the meeting the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia came with a speech by presenting the steps undertaken towards raising the efficiency of justice and the reforms of the justice sector to be implemented in the future. V. Kocharyan touched upon legal regulations enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the new draft Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia indicating the role of the Supreme Judicial Council as an independent body guaranteeing the independence of courts and judges. Deputy Minister informed the participants of the meeting that the new 2018-2023 Action Plan for Legal and Judicial Reforms is currently under development, which is planned to be adopted early in 2018.

At the end of the speech the Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of assistance by the international partners during the implementation of reforms in the justice sector and expressed hope for further efficient co-operation.

During the meeting the representatives of the European Commission applauded the efforts of the Eastern Partnership countries aimed at reforms in the justice sector, as well as they reaffirmed the willingness to support the process of reforms in the justice sector implemented in the region, through political support, expert consultation and financial assistance.