In the framework of the Joint Project on “Improving the Effectiveness of the Administrative Judiciary and Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Council of State”, a series of important consultations and events continued to take place between 27-30 June and on 1 July 2022. These meetings addressed the internal review mechanisms of the administrative authorities of Türkiye, leading to contribute to practices to decrease of the heavy workload of the national courts. The consultations were conducted with various authorities, including the Ombudsman Institution, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Social Security Institution, and Social Security Institution Ankara Province Office.
On 27 June 2022, Council of Europe (CoE) consultants Caroline Daly, Mary Cooke, Prof. Dr. Barış Övgün, and Prof. Dr. Doğan Nadi Leblebici, as well as the Project team, visited the Ombudsman Institution and gathered information on complaint and internal review mechanisms.
On 28 June 2022, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and on 29 June 2022 Social Security Institution, as well as Social Security Institution Ankara Province Office, hosted CoE consultants, the CoE Project team and the Ministry of Justice project team and provided detailed information on internal review mechanisms within the public authorities.
On 30 June 2022, four focus group meetings with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Social Security Institution directors, personnel, citizens, and Ankara Regional Administrative Court judges were held. The discussions were very fruitful, having covered a wide range of issues, including best practices on internal review and complaint mechanisms, availability, accessibility of and awareness on the public services and areas where improvements might have been needed.
The Workshop on Internal Review by the Administrative Authorities was held on 1 July 2022 with the participation of the representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ombudsman Institution, Council of State, Union of Turkish Bar Associations, Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, judges from Ankara Regional Administrative Court, Ministry of Health, the Social Security Institution, and the Ministry of Education. The participants evaluated the visits to public authorities, focus group meetings and discussed Good Governance Principles and Internal Review Mechanisms.
The objective of the above-mentioned consultations was to consider steps to remedy specific areas of concern, namely, to identify measures to improve the application of the case law in decisions by public authorities, to empower administrative decision makers in exercise of their discretion, the systems that are able to identify and address any systemic deficiencies in the course of an internal review. The consultations and discussions were very fruitful. Eventually, under the Project, the consultants will prepare A Guide to Good Administrative Practices on Internal Review, which will be published and distributed to public administration bodies as well.
The Joint Project on Improving the Effectiveness of the Administrative Judiciary and Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Council of State is co-funded by the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Republic of Türkiye, and implemented by the Council of Europe. The Turkish Ministry of Justice - Directorate General for Legal Affairs is the end beneficiary of the Project. The Central Finance and Contracts Unit is the contracting authority of this Project.
