National School of Judges of Ukraine training new generation of judges in knowledge of European law before joining EU

As part of its European integration into the European Union, Ukraine is actively adapting its judicial system to European standards.

The rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine (NSJU) announced this, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

The European Commission recommended that at least 67% of judges be trained in European law each year. These recommendations have become an incentive in the field of training and advanced training of judges. The National School of Judges of Ukraine (NSJU) plays a leading role in training judges in knowledge of EU law.

The NSJU has begun the process of forming a new generation of judges — knowledgeable, competent, with knowledge of European values. In 2024, 250 judges from various jurisdictions and instances underwent advanced training in EU law at the NSJU, and in the first quarter of this year — 592 judges.

“Today, Ukraine faces a historic task — not only to integrate into the European Union as a political community, but also to become a full-fledged part of the European legal space. And it is judges who play a key role in this process. Therefore, at the National School of Judges, we do not just teach EU law — we form a legal culture that will become the foundation for a new stage of the country’s development,” said the rector of the National School of Judges, Mykola Onishchuk.

To this end, the National School has established cooperation with judges of the Court of Justice of the EU — the key judicial body of the EU, which ensures the principles of interpretation and application of European Union law. The National School of Judges has involved Virgilijus Valančius, a judge of the Court of Justice of the EU in 2016–2023, who is today the chief international expert of the European project on “Supporting the European Integration Process in the Sphere of Justice.” International experts conduct trainings and webinars, during which Ukrainian judges receive the necessary knowledge about the principles of the functioning of the EU judicial system, the practice of the Court of Justice and its role in building a single European legal space. In the first half of 2025, 27 training lectures are planned, and in total over the year - more than 50.

“Ukraine is a candidate for EU membership, and therefore cannot directly refer to the practice of the Court of Justice as a source of law. At the same time, it should become a “source of inspiration” for the administration of justice according to the highest standards of guaranteeing and ensuring human rights,” emphasized Virgilijus Valančius.

The National School of Judges of Ukraine assures that new knowledge will be useful after Ukraine becomes a full member of the EU. This concerns approaches to the interpretation of EU law, the peculiarities of the relationship between national and supranational law, as well as the issue of legal protection of citizens in accordance with European standards.

According to judges participating in the NSJU program, such training opens up new opportunities for cooperation with European institutions and promotes the exchange of experience.

The NSJU's work in this area also includes participation in the training programs of the Academy of European Law (ERA), the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN), and others. Among the key priorities of the NSJU is the implementation of the rule of law, ensuring the integrity, independence, and professionalism of the judiciary in Ukraine. An important step was the creation of a laboratory for the study of EU law within the NJSU structure, where judges conduct systematic work on the adaptation of Ukrainian justice to EU standards.

As a reminder, the National School of Judges of Ukraine first trained court employees to maintain military records. The National School of Judges also launched a pilot project to train specialized judges to consider family and children's cases.

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