🇺🇦🏛️On 16 September 2025, the Parliament adopted in its second reading and in full Draft Law No. 13302 on the establishment of the Specialised District Administrative Court and the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal, submitted by the President of Ukraine as urgent. This decision marks an important step in fulfilling Ukraine’s commitments to its international partners, particularly the European Union, and upholds the principles of the rule of law.
⚖ Key Provisions of the Adopted Law
Draft Law No. 13302 was developed in line with the Constitution of Ukraine and the already enacted Law of Ukraine No. 4264-IX dated 26 February 2025, which sets the legal framework for the operation of new specialised courts.
Purpose — to establish an independent judicial body dedicated to hearing administrative cases against central executive authorities.
Location — Kyiv, with jurisdiction across the entire territory of Ukraine.
Judicial Selection Process — a competitive procedure announced by the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine within one month of the law’s entry into force.
Integrity Oversight — conducted with the involvement of a newly established Expert Council, which will evaluate judicial candidates based on integrity and professional competence.
🌍 European Integration Context
The creation of specialised administrative courts is envisaged by several key documents:
Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policy (11 December 2024),
European Commission Report on Ukraine (30 October 2024),
Ukraine Facility and the Rule of Law Roadmap,
Council of Europe Standards on Access to Administrative Justice.
In this way, Ukraine is fulfilling not only its domestic legal obligations but also systematically implementing the recommendations of its international partners, which form an integral part of the country’s EU integration process.
🧩 What This Means for Citizens
Public disputes — including lawsuits against ministries, state agencies, or other central authorities — will now be considered by a specialised court, ensuring an expert approach and faster proceedings.
The decisions of the newly created courts will have nationwide effect, establishing uniform standards of justice throughout Ukraine.
The very existence of these institutions will enhance public trust in the judiciary, particularly in cases where the state is the respondent.
📌 Other Items on the Agenda
During the session, Members of Parliament also began reviewing amendments to the Draft Law on the Military Ombudsman (No. 13266) — an initiative focused on protecting the rights of military personnel and veterans.
Notably, the live broadcast of Verkhovna Rada plenary sessions has been restored, an important step toward transparency, openness, and public engagement in the legislative process. This move aligns with the best European practices of parliamentary democracy.
🔎 Conclusions and Next Steps
The decision to establish the Specialised District and Appellate Administrative Courts represents not only the fulfilment of international obligations but also a structural reform of the national judicial system. In the coming weeks, competitive selection procedures will be launched, judicial appointments will be made, and technical provisions will be implemented.
Our editorial team will continue to keep citizens informed about the progress of this reform and other significant legislative initiatives.
📢 Stay updated at www.ndu.kr.ua — bringing Parliament closer to the people.
