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 Contemporary
societies have a strong need for justice. Complex
social relations, economic crisis and aggressive
cross-border criminal organizations demand an
effective reaction of the legal system. This
response has to be quick and sharp, but at the same
time it has to respect the rights of each person (as
a suspect, a defendant or a victim of a crime).
These needs confront each other in criminal trials.
Therein the role of the public prosecutor is
central: he/she is a public official who prosecutes
criminals in the interest of his/her community and
in the spirit of impartiality and effectiveness.
The Council of Europe founded the Consultative
Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) mirroring its
wish to dedicate special attention to these values.
The CCPE ensures that the Committee of Ministers
receives contributions sharing the ideas and
experiences of the representatives of the
prosecution services from all the 47 Member States.
These representatives are chosen among those serving
prosecutors having a thorough knowledge of the
functioning of the prosecution system combined with
utmost personal integrity.
The same awareness had led the Council of Europe to
approve the Recommendation
Rec(2000)19: it is a milestone in the definition
of the role of the prosecution service in the system
of criminal justice. It outlines -in a State
governed by the rule of law- the value of
effectiveness and fair behaviour in public
prosecution actions, as well as the independence of
the prosecution service as an instrument to
safeguard the principle of equality before the law
for all citizens.
Since its establishment in 2005, the CCPE has
contributed to make the principles of the
Rec(2000)19 an integral part of the cultural
background of prosecutors and of other public powers
in each Member State. I can affirm that the main
goals of my chair will be pursuing this work, trying
at the same time to focus on an updated
interpretation of the principles ratified in the
Recommendation.
The CCPE main features are represented by a
democratic method in drawing up its Opinions and an
attention to the European Convention on Human
Rights, as it endures in the interpretation of the
Strasbourg Court.
At the same time, the CCPE has always been trying to
reach concrete goals. The most recent example is
represented by the
Opinion No. 7(2012) on the "Management of the
means of Prosecution services", where the CCPE has
been looking for rational and effective lines of
action, always underlining -however- that the
present economic crisis should not lead to back down
from the fight against criminal organizations.
The valuable contribution of all the colleagues who
are members of the Bureau, of the Working Group and
of the entire CCPE will always be following these
shared values that qualify our function as public
prosecutors.
Antonio Mura
President of the CCPE
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Raija Toiviainen
Cédric
Visart de Bocarme (Belgium)