Assuming the presidency of the Consultative Council of European Judges represents a distinguished responsibility, accompanied by a clear understanding of the duties it entails.

In honour of those who have served before me, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my predecessor, Justice Leonie Reynolds. Her term of office was marked by dedication and steadfast commitment to the values that guide the CCJE.

The present times, coinciding with my election, pose severe dangers to democratic institutions. In several Member States, there is an irrefutable decline of citizens' trust in democratic institutions, increasing polarisation and radicalisation of civil societies, and a weakening of a long‑standing system of “checks and balances”, notably through attempts to bring the judiciary under control.

In such a context, judicial independence is exposed both to new complex forms of pressure and to older methods of obstruction.

In these worrying circumstances, international organisations play a crucial role.

The Council of Europe, founded to uphold human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, provides a common framework of principles, standards, and mechanisms within which States can find guidance and support.

Cooperation among various organs sharing these aims is essential. Consultative bodies, monitoring mechanisms, and judicial or quasi‑judicial institutions strengthen each other’s efforts. The CCJE forms an integral part of this work. It places at the disposal of Member States and their courts its opinions and recommendations often mentioned and followed in national and international fora.

From its creation, the CCJE has also been defined by its method of work. Composed exclusively of sitting judges, it proceeds through rational analysis, comparative reflection, and genuine dialogue among members drawn from different legal traditions. Its texts emerge from discussions aimed at reaching a common understanding, rather than from abstract theorising. This democratic approach, rooted in professional experience and technical expertise, enables the CCJE to develop standards that offer coherent guidance at the European level.

Another central aim of the CCJE is to address the concerns of judges in their daily work.

The subjects it examines — whether judicial status, court organisation, or the impact of new technologies — are approached with the intention of responding to concrete problems arising in courtrooms and within judicial systems. The CCJE seeks to articulate principles that can assist in situations of growing complexity, increasing workloads, and, in some instances, direct threats to the independence or effective functioning of the judiciary. Its ambition is both principled and pragmatic: to state what the Rule of Law requires, particularly when its foundations are under strain, while remaining close to the difficulties faced by those who serve as its guarantors.

In accepting the office of President, I assume a firm responsibility to pursue this work with diligence and a sense of belonging. This entails close cooperation with CCJE members, experts, observers, and the secretariat, as well as constructive engagement with other international bodies dedicated to the promotion of human rights and the Rule of Law.

Despite the fatigue of democracy, the rise of populist autocracies, and the crisis affecting collective European standards, our pledge remains, with serene resilience, unchanged.

Ultimately, much depends on the warning voiced nearly two centuries ago by President Andrew Jackson of the United States: “All the rights secured to the citizens under the Constitution are worth nothing, and a mere bubble, except if guaranteed by an independent and virtuous Judiciary.”

The new presidency begins its mandate with this inspiring perspective in mind, fully conscious of the demanding times ahead, yet confident in the strength of a collective commitment to the civilisational values that must shape the future of Europe.