On 9 September 2026, the CCPE President, Raymond Briscoe (Ireland), participated in an exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers. He presented the recent work of the CCPE, in particular Opinion No. 20 (2025), which emphasises the importance of diversity and inclusivity within prosecution services, and Opinion No. 19 (2024), which highlights the essential role of the heads of prosecution services in safeguarding their institutional independence and providing for impartial work of individual prosecutors. He also reported on ongoing work on Opinion No. 21 (2026) concerning support and safeguards for prosecutors. This Opinion will bring together and update standards in key thematic areas of prosecutorial work, so as to respond to new challenges, such as those posed by the evolution of crime and technologies.

The CCPE President also mentioned the thematic study carried out last year, which provides a snapshot of the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in prosecution services, by documenting relevant laws, policies, and practices in member states. He underlined that this study highlights the need for future CCPE guidance and that it contributes to the Council of Europe’s efforts to ensure that the use of AI respects the rule of law, human rights, and democracy.

The Committee of Ministers showed great appreciation for the work done by the CCPE and renewed its support.