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Electronic court improves efficiency of case processing, EBA study shows

14/ 11/ 2024
  The European Business Association, in partnership with the law firm AEQUO, conducted an expert study titled “Court Index” in 2024. View the presentation This year’s study reveals a slight negative trend in business assessments of the court system’s performance. The overall Court Index score for 2024 decreased to 2.60 out of 5, compared to 2.73 in 2023. Among the index components, the rating of the quality of сourt organisation and operations by legal professionals decreased from 3.13 last year to 3.05. The impartiality of the court system also saw a slight decline, rated at 2.56 in 2024 compared to 2.88 previously. Furthermore, 42% of respondents reported encountering judicial bias. Meanwhile, trust in the court system among company executives remained stable and even slightly improved to 2.19 (up from 2.17 last year). Typically, executives’ ratings are significantly lower than those from the legal expert community. The highest-rated aspects of the court systems organisation and operations remained the same as last year: accessibility of court rulings, judges qualifications and professionalism, quality of judicial decisions, and predictability of court proceedings. Lower ratings were given to court system independence, the speed of case processing, and the objectivity of the judicial process. Respondents identified the top three factors negatively impacting trust in the court system as (1) corruption and bribery within сourt proceedings, (2) excessive court workload leading to a decline in case quality, and (3) ambiguity in the legislation handled by the courts. The most common issues cited by survey participants included delays in proceedings, a lack of response by judges to procedural abuses by parties, and superficial case reviews or failure to follow all stages of proceedings. Commercial courts again received the highest rating from the professional community at 2.72 out of 5 (compared to 2.83 in 2023). Administrative courts were rated second at 2.59, and general courts third at 2.5. This trend aligns with findings from previous years. The most urgent tasks for the court system, according to businesses, include combating corruption, ensuring court system independence from other branches of power, and adhering to the rule of law. Commenting on changes in the сourt over the past five years, survey participants noted that electronic court systems have created new opportunities for efficient case handling, with 76% of respondents in agreement. However, 44% observed an increase in case processing times, while 36% noted improvements in the quality of court decisions. Anna Derevyanko. . The index results are linked to the challenges currently faced by businesses, the сourt, and the country as a whole. Nonetheless, there remains a strong demand from businesses for significant improvements. Despite difficult times, we must move forward with сourt reform. Alongside institutional changes, informational and reputational efforts are also needed. Oleksii Filatov. Senior Partner at AEQUO law firm. Court independence, consistency, and predictability in court practice remain priorities for further development of the justice system in Ukraine. For reference The “Court Index” has been conducted by the European Business Association since 2013 to monitor and promptly identify problematic aspects in the relationship between business and the court system. It consists of three equal components: an assessment of trust in the court system by executives of member companies, an assessment of сourt impartiality, and an average rating of factors related to the court systems organisation and operations. The study is based on responses from representatives of Ukrainian businesses and foreign investors, including executives and lawyers, regarding their experience with сourt institutions. The survey was conducted from October 9 to 29, with 84 lawyers from member companies participating. AEQUO law firm served as the study partner for 2024.

The European Business Association, in partnership with the law firm AEQUO, conducted an expert study titled “Court Index” in 2024.

View the presentation

This year’s study reveals a slight negative trend in business assessments of the court system’s performance. The overall Court Index score for 2024 decreased to 2.60 out of 5, compared to 2.73 in 2023.

Among the index components, the rating of the quality of сourt organisation and operations by legal professionals decreased from 3.13 last year to 3.05. The impartiality of the court system also saw a slight decline, rated at 2.56 in 2024 compared to 2.88 previously. Furthermore, 42% of respondents reported encountering judicial bias.

Meanwhile, trust in the court system among company executives remained stable and even slightly improved to 2.19 (up from 2.17 last year). Typically, executives’ ratings are significantly lower than those from the legal expert community.

The highest-rated aspects of the court system’s organisation and operations remained the same as last year: accessibility of court rulings, judges’ qualifications and professionalism, quality of judicial decisions, and predictability of court proceedings. Lower ratings were given to court system independence, the speed of case processing, and the objectivity of the judicial process.

Respondents identified the top three factors negatively impacting trust in the court system as (1) corruption and bribery within сourt proceedings, (2) excessive court workload leading to a decline in case quality, and (3) ambiguity in the legislation handled by the courts.

The most common issues cited by survey participants included delays in proceedings, a lack of response by judges to procedural abuses by parties, and superficial case reviews or failure to follow all stages of proceedings.

Commercial courts again received the highest rating from the professional community at 2.72 out of 5 (compared to 2.83 in 2023). Administrative courts were rated second at 2.59, and general courts third at 2.5. This trend aligns with findings from previous years.

The most urgent tasks for the court system, according to businesses, include combating corruption, ensuring court system independence from other branches of power, and adhering to the rule of law.

Commenting on changes in the сourt over the past five years, survey participants noted that electronic court systems have created new opportunities for efficient case handling, with 76% of respondents in agreement. However, 44% observed an increase in case processing times, while 36% noted improvements in the quality of court decisions.

Anna Derevyanko
The index results are linked to the challenges currently faced by businesses, the сourt, and the country as a whole. Nonetheless, there remains a strong demand from businesses for significant improvements. Despite difficult times, we must move forward with сourt reform. Alongside institutional changes, informational and reputational efforts are also needed.
Oleksii Filatov Senior Partner at AEQUO law firm
Court independence, consistency, and predictability in court practice remain priorities for further development of the justice system in Ukraine.

For reference

The “Court Index” has been conducted by the European Business Association since 2013 to monitor and promptly identify problematic aspects in the relationship between business and the court system. It consists of three equal components: an assessment of trust in the court system by executives of member companies, an assessment of сourt impartiality, and an average rating of factors related to the court system’s organisation and operations.

The study is based on responses from representatives of Ukrainian businesses and foreign investors, including executives and lawyers, regarding their experience with сourt institutions. The survey was conducted from October 9 to 29, with 84 lawyers from member companies participating. AEQUO law firm served as the study partner for 2024.

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