Joint Project on Improving the Effectiveness of the Administrative Judiciary and Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of Council of State

Call for tender – Provision of visibility materials in Turkish administrative courts
The Joint Project on “Improving the Effectiveness of the Administrative Judiciary and Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Council of State in Turkey (hereinafter – the Project) is launching a tender procedure for purchase of services on provision of visibility items and delivery of...
Enhancing the Role of the Ombudsman with Civil Society Organizations
The first of a series of four consultation meetings with the purpose of “Enhancing the role of the Ombudsman” was held on 2 February 2021 in the form of a webinar. The aim of the webinar was to raise awareness and explore the potential role of ombudsman in making public administration more...
The report on “Protection, Promotion and Development of the Ombudsman Institution” has been published in Turkish
The report on “Protection, Promotion and Development of the Ombudsman Institution” prepared by the Council of Europe in September 2019, with the purpose to promote and develop the Ombudsman Institution in the member States of the Council of Europe, has been translated to Turkish within the scope...
WEBINAR ON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) METHODS IN ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE
An international webinar, first in the series on “Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods in French Administrative Judiciary System and Practices in Turkish Administrative Judiciary System” was held on 16 December 2020. The aim of the webinar was to explore available alternative dispute resolution...
CoE HANDBOOK “THE ADMINISTRATION AND YOU” IS NOW IN TURKISH
The Council of Europe Handbook “The Administration and You” is a reference book collecting the standards set by the Council of Europe for good administration. It has been translated into Turkish within the scope of the joint Project entitled Increasing the Effectiveness of the Administrative...

Project Description
This project’s overall objective is to foster public confidence in the administrative judiciary by further strengthening its independence, impartiality and effectiveness and increasing its public awareness. It proposes measures to support the reforms that have been introduced by the Turkish authorities and develop further the administrative justice, if needed.
These measures are aimed both at reducing the number of appeals and also improving the quality of decision-making, that is to say, the delivery of quality decisions, within a reasonable time following a fair consideration of the issues.
The Project will assist the MoJ, first instance tax and administrative courts, RACs and the CoS in order to support the significant reforms introduced by the Turkish authorities in the restructuring of administrative appeals as the success of those reforms will contribute to the broader purpose of improving the capacity and effectiveness of the administrative justice system to secure the rule of law and raise fundamental rights’ standards.
Supporting further reforming of the administrative justice system including the strengthening the institutional capacity of Council of State (CoS) and increasing effectiveness and quality of the administrative justice courts are amongst the Project’s specific objectives as well.
Project Information
Title of the Project: Improving the Capacity of the Administrative Judiciary and Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Council of State
Duration: 36 months (21 December 2018 – 20 December 2021)
Place/Country: Turkey
Budget: 3.335.000 €
Funding: This Project is co-financed by the Republic of Turkey, the European Union, and the Council of Europe.
End Beneficiary: Ministry of Justice, Directorate General for Legal Affairs
Target Groups: Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Council of State (CoS), Tax and first instance administrative courts, Regional Administrative Courts (RAC), Lawyers, Ombudsman
Project Activities
Expected Result 1:
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In depth review of current administrative justice system and assessment of impact of the reforms implemented
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Roadmap for an improved administrative justice
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Monitoring appeals in the selected first instance courts and RACs
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International symposium
Expected Result 2:
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Training needs assessment
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Preparation of training curricula and materials
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Training of trainers (ToT)
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Training of judges, prosecutors, lawyers and court staff on administrative justice
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Peer-to-peer training/round tables on ECHR and CJEU
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Publishing of the Casebook on European Fair Trial Standards
Expected Result 3:
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Consultations on internal review by the administrative authorities
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Identifying ADR mechanisms
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Assessment of pilot judgment procedure
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Enhancing the role of the Ombudsman
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Improving relations between individuals and the public administration
Expected Result 4:
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Training on analytical capacity of the RACs and the CoS
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Increased efficiency in the selected first instance courts and RACs
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Assessment of the challenges and analysis of good practices in judicial decision-making
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Study visits and placements
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Ensuring consistency in judicial decisions
Project Results
The following results are expected to be achieved through this Project:
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Approaches to and policies for improving the effectiveness of the administrative judiciary are agreed, evidence-based and its implementation supported.
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The institutional and professional capacity of the administrative judiciary is strengthened, thereby increasing public confidence in the administrative judiciary.
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The measures to relieve the administrative justice system and courts of their heavy workload are identified and supported, the existing pre-trial resolution mechanisms are strengthened and appropriate alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms are introduced.
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The length of appellate proceedings is reduced by more efficient and effective case management by the RACs and the CoS, and any necessary changes to the systems and processes are introduced.


Project News
Call for tender – Provision of visibility materials in Turkish administrative courts
WEBINAR ON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) METHODS IN ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE
Council of State Discusses Roadmap for an Improved Administrative Justice
Report on Training Needs Assessment in Administrative Judiciary has been Published
One to One Online Meetings with Pilot Courts
First online international meeting with six pilot courts held!
CCJE Opinion (2012) No.15 on the Specialisation of judges is now available in Turkish
Two Assessment Reports Completed: Initial Needs Assessment Report & Training Needs Assessment Report
TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDICIARY
Roadmap for an Improved Administrative Justice System
“Identifying Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms in Administrative Justice”
First Peer-to-Peer Round Table on the ECHR and Case Law of the ECtHR was held in Ankara
Monitoring appeals in the selected first instance courts and RAC second meetings
“Monitoring cases in the selected first instance courts and RACs” meeting
“In-Depth Administrative Justice System Review” Meeting Held in Turkey