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Business slightly improves its assessment of the court system, yet CEOs’ trust remains low – EBA study

23/ 12/ 2025
  The European Business Association, in partnership with the law firm AEQUO, has conducted a new wave of the expert study “Сourt Index”. View the presentation In 2025, the study shows a certain improvement in the business community’s assessment of the judicial system in Ukraine. The composite Сourt Index increased to 2.75 points on a five-point scale, compared to 2.60 points in 2024. All components of the Index demonstrated some growth in this year’s survey. In particular, the assessment of the quality of organisation and functioning of the judicial system by legal professionals increased from 3.05 points last year to 3.16 points this year. Lawyers’ assessment of the impartiality of the judicial system also improved slightly, reaching 2.77 points in 2025 compared to 2.56 points previously. At the same time, 33% of surveyed professionals report encountering bias within the judicial system. The level of trust in the judicial system among company executives also rose slightly, to 2.32 points (from 2.19 points last year). Only 12% of surveyed CEOs rather trust or fully trust Ukraine’s judicial system, while 60% do not trust it. A further 27% of executives neither trust nor distrust the courts. The list of factors related to the organisation and functioning of the judicial system that experts rated most highly has remained virtually unchanged for several years. These include the accessibility of court decisions, the qualifications and professionalism of judges, the quality of court rulings, as well as the objectivity and predictability of court proceedings. Lower scores were given to the timeframes for adopting court decisions and the independence of the judiciary. Respondents consistently identify the main factors negatively affecting trust in the judicial branch as: (1) corruption and bribery within court proceedings; (2) excessive caseloads of courts, leading to a decline in the quality of judicial review; and (3) the lengthy consideration of cases and preparation of court decisions. Once again, commercial courts received the highest assessment from the professional community, scoring 3.4 points out of 5 (2.72 in 2024). Administrative courts ranked second with a score of 3.13 points, followed by general courts with 2.93 points. This year’s results correspond to trends observed in previous years; however, for the first time, the performance of commercial and administrative courts exceeded the 3-point mark and moved into the neutral range. Anna Derevyanko. . Business has a sustained demand for ensuring the rule of law in the country. The ability to protect one’s legitimate rights is a prerequisite for new investment and an important commitment for Ukraine on its path towards European integration. Oleksii Filatov. Senior Partner at AEQUO law firm. The results of the Сourt Index once again confirm that for business, not only formal changes matter, but also the consistency and predictability of judicial practice. Issues of judicial independence and the quality of law enforcement still require systemic attention. Addressing these challenges remains one of the key prerequisites for Ukraine’s economic development and recovery. About the study The Court Index has been conducted by the European Business Association since 2013 to assess the functioning of the judicial system from a business perspective. It consists of three equally weighted components: the level of trust in the judicial system among executives of EBA member companies; the assessment of the impartiality of the judicial system; and the average assessment of factors related to the organisation and functioning of the judiciary. The study is based on an analysis of evaluations provided by executives and lawyers from the EBAs member companies, reflecting their experience of interaction with judicial institutions. The survey was conducted between 18 November and 9 December and included 61 lawyers from member companies, 82% of whom are practising attorneys. For 64% of respondents, experience in litigation exceeds 10 years. The study also incorporates responses from 88 company executives who participated in the Investment Attractiveness Index of Ukraine survey. The partner of the Court Index study in 2025 is the law firm AEQUO.

The European Business Association, in partnership with the law firm AEQUO, has conducted a new wave of the expert study “Сourt Index”.

View the presentation

In 2025, the study shows a certain improvement in the business community’s assessment of the judicial system in Ukraine. The composite Сourt Index increased to 2.75 points on a five-point scale, compared to 2.60 points in 2024.

All components of the Index demonstrated some growth in this year’s survey. In particular, the assessment of the quality of organisation and functioning of the judicial system by legal professionals increased from 3.05 points last year to 3.16 points this year. Lawyers’ assessment of the impartiality of the judicial system also improved slightly, reaching 2.77 points in 2025 compared to 2.56 points previously. At the same time, 33% of surveyed professionals report encountering bias within the judicial system.

The level of trust in the judicial system among company executives also rose slightly, to 2.32 points (from 2.19 points last year). Only 12% of surveyed CEOs rather trust or fully trust Ukraine’s judicial system, while 60% do not trust it. A further 27% of executives neither trust nor distrust the courts.

The list of factors related to the organisation and functioning of the judicial system that experts rated most highly has remained virtually unchanged for several years. These include the accessibility of court decisions, the qualifications and professionalism of judges, the quality of court rulings, as well as the objectivity and predictability of court proceedings. Lower scores were given to the timeframes for adopting court decisions and the independence of the judiciary.

Respondents consistently identify the main factors negatively affecting trust in the judicial branch as: (1) corruption and bribery within court proceedings; (2) excessive caseloads of courts, leading to a decline in the quality of judicial review; and (3) the lengthy consideration of cases and preparation of court decisions.

Once again, commercial courts received the highest assessment from the professional community, scoring 3.4 points out of 5 (2.72 in 2024). Administrative courts ranked second with a score of 3.13 points, followed by general courts with 2.93 points. This year’s results correspond to trends observed in previous years; however, for the first time, the performance of commercial and administrative courts exceeded the 3-point mark and moved into the neutral range.

Anna Derevyanko
Business has a sustained demand for ensuring the rule of law in the country. The ability to protect one’s legitimate rights is a prerequisite for new investment and an important commitment for Ukraine on its path towards European integration.
Oleksii Filatov Senior Partner at AEQUO law firm
The results of the Сourt Index once again confirm that for business, not only formal changes matter, but also the consistency and predictability of judicial practice. Issues of judicial independence and the quality of law enforcement still require systemic attention. Addressing these challenges remains one of the key prerequisites for Ukraine’s economic development and recovery.

About the study

The Court Index has been conducted by the European Business Association since 2013 to assess the functioning of the judicial system from a business perspective. It consists of three equally weighted components: the level of trust in the judicial system among executives of EBA member companies; the assessment of the impartiality of the judicial system; and the average assessment of factors related to the organisation and functioning of the judiciary.

The study is based on an analysis of evaluations provided by executives and lawyers from the EBA’s member companies, reflecting their experience of interaction with judicial institutions. The survey was conducted between 18 November and 9 December and included 61 lawyers from member companies, 82% of whom are practising attorneys. For 64% of respondents, experience in litigation exceeds 10 years. The study also incorporates responses from 88 company executives who participated in the Investment Attractiveness Index of Ukraine survey. The partner of the Court Index study in 2025 is the law firm AEQUO.

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