On 29 November 2022, Ms Jana ZEZULOVA, President of the CCPE, took part in an exchange of views at the 82nd plenary meeting of the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) and presented the CCPE’s recently adopted Opinion No. 17 (2022) on the role of prosecutors in the protection of the environment, as well as the CCPE’s preliminary reflections on future standard setting work regarding prosecutors.
The President underlined that prosecutorial independence, autonomy and accountability are standing at the very heart of the work of the CCPE, as well as the linkages between the work of the CDPC as a standard setting body and those of the CCPE as a consultative body. She highlighted the possible need to revisit the Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation Rec(2000)19 on the role of public prosecution in the criminal justice system in light of the developments which occurred since 2000, which was also one of the key conclusions of the European Conference of Prosecutors organised in the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. The President invited the CDPC to consider embarking in a process for revising or elaborating a new recommendation on this topic.
Both the CDPC and the CCPE Presidents underlined the importance of regular dialogue and co-operation between the CCPE and the CDPC in areas of common interest, and notably with respect to any future standard setting work regarding prosecutorial aspects.
The CCPE President’s presentation was followed by an exchange of views.
