Languages: English; Ukrainian

The panel “Mediation and Courts: The Future of Consensual Court-Connected Procedures in the Context of European Integration” will explore the role of mediation and other consensual procedures in enhancing the efficiency of justice, ensuring access to justice, and fostering a modern culture of dispute resolution. The topic is particularly relevant in the context of Ukraine’s European integration process and the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap, which identifies the development of alternative dispute resolution and mediation as important areas of justice reform. In particular, the Roadmap envisages establishing a system for collecting mediation-related data, monitoring public policies aimed at encouraging parties to use mediation, and exploring the possibility of introducing mandatory pre-trial dispute resolution procedures.

The aim of the panel is to develop a shared vision of the future interaction between courts and mediation in Ukraine, taking into account European standards and best practices from EU Member States. The participants will discuss prospects for the development of pre-trial and court-connected mediation in EU Member States, procedural mechanisms for facilitating settlement between parties, the role of judges in promoting consensual procedures, as well as the legislative and institutional steps required to fulfil Ukraine’s European integration commitments in the area of the rule of law.

The practical significance of the panel lies in developing recommendations for improving legislation and judicial practice, strengthening effective cooperation between courts and mediators, and expanding the use of mediation as a swift, accessible, and party-oriented means of dispute resolution. The discussion is expected to contribute to the implementation of the measures envisaged by the Rule of Law Roadmap and to bringing Ukraine’s justice system closer to European Union standards.