The CCPE Working Group met in Strasbourg on 11-12 May 2023 to examine the draft Opinion No. 18 (2023) on the Councils of Prosecutors as key bodies of prosecutorial self-governance. The draft Opinion was prepared by the CCPE experts in co-operation with the Secretariat. Members of the Working Group suggested a number of amendments and developed the draft further.

While recognising substantial differences in member States as regards prosecution systems, the CCPE is of the opinion that what brings them together is the need to provide for the independence and autonomy of the prosecution services in order to secure their impartial and effective functioning and decision-making. The purpose of the Opinion is therefore to highlight the role of the Councils of Prosecutors and other bodies dealing with the prosecutorial self-governance in safeguarding institutional independence of prosecution services and functional independence of individual prosecutors. The Opinion strives in particular to offer best practices with a view to improving prosecutorial self-governance with due regard to different legal cultures and traditions and within the overall framework of reinforcing the independence, efficiency and quality of justice.