The 19th plenary meeting of the CCPE was held on 28-29 October 2024 in Strasbourg. Mr Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, greeted the participants and delivered opening remarks underlining that CCPE Opinions build on practical experience of prosecutors across Europe, bringing a real added value.
The Opinion No. 19 (2024) on managing prosecution services to ensure their independence and impartiality has been adopted. Recognising the diversity of legal systems and traditions of member states, the Opinion brings together relevant standards existing in Europe, and examines the crucial role of heads of prosecution services both as regards maintaining their institutional independence, as well as upholding the functional independence of individual prosecutors.
The Opinion explains the context that makes it possible, highlighting the principles that enable heads of prosecution services to be independent themselves and to manage their services independently and impartially. The Opinion also takes into account existing standards of other bodies and institutions of the Council of Europe and beyond.
The plenary meeting has also adopted the thematic study of the CCPE on management practices of prosecution services in member states in connection with prosecutorial independence and impartiality. The thematic study explores legal systems and models in various member states and offers examples of best practices.
