The Project’s overall objective is to further strengthen and make more concrete and visible the independence, impartiality, efficiency and administration of the judiciary. It will focus on addressing the issues obstructing the Court of Cassation’s performance, including its excessive workload, the need for more effective working procedures and, also, in relation to the appeal process and the appellate courts, the lack of consistency and improving the poor quality of judicial decisions.

Title of the Project: Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Court of Cassation

Duration: 36 months (22 February 2019-20 February 2022)

Budget: 3,000,000 €

Funding: This Project is co-funded by the European Union (90%) and the Council of Europe (10%).

End Beneficiary: Court of Cassation

Lead Institution: Ministry of Justice

Contracting Authority: Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU)

Target Groups: Bench members, rapporteur judges, public prosecutors and auxiliary judicial staff of the Court of Cassation

Expected Result 1:

• Baseline and End-line Studies
• Review of the legal and regulatory framework
• Review of European standards and practices for comparative reference source
• International seminars and study visits for the comparative analysis
• Assessing the performance of the Court of Cassation
• Drafting of a roadmap for changes in the current legal and regulatory framework
• International Conference for presentation of the recommendations and endorsement of the roadmap

Expected Result 2:

• Desk Review of the current Court of Cassation working procedures, rules and practices
• Discussion with the stakeholders on the efficiency of the Court of Cassation and the consistency of case-law
• Establishment of the central case-law database
• Elaboration of new assessment tools and standards and pilot testing
• Study visits

Expected Result 3:

• Training Needs Assessment for professional development
• Developing a new training strategy and action plan
• Development of training curriculum, modules and materials
• Training of trainers (ToT)
• Preparation of the induction programme/course
• Development of tools and adaptation of the training materials for online training
• Other publications and translations
• Delivery of pilot training courses

The following results are expected to be achieved through this Project:

Expected Result 1:

The legal framework governing the appeal process, structure and functioning of the Court of Cassation is assessed and/or revised.

Expected Result 2:

Working procedures and tools of the Court of Cassation are assessed and/or revised, and the new ones are introduced to ensure a uniform practice by taking into account the best European practices.

Expected Result 3:

Quality of the training policy and programme of the Court of Cassation is improved by taking into account the best European practices.