The CCPE Working Group met in Strasbourg on 16-17 February 2023 to discuss the draft structure for the CCPE Opinion No. 18 (2023) on the Councils of Prosecutors as key bodies of prosecutorial self-governance.

Members of the Working Group considered the draft structure of the Opinion prepared by the CCPE Secretariat on the basis of the previous Opinions of the CCPE, as well as Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers and relevant instruments of the Venice Commission, GRECO and other institutions within and outside of the Council of Europe.

Participants suggested a number of amendments and developed the draft further. They noted in particular a vast variety of legal and prosecution systems in Europe, including member States where Councils of Prosecutors and/or other bodies dealing with prosecutorial self-governance exist, where they are part of the Councils for the Judiciary responsible for both judges and prosecutors, or still where such bodies do not exist, however, the prosecutorial self-governance is provided for by other means. The future Opinion will take this variety into account and will highlight the institutional value of such bodies and their importance for the independence and impartiality of the prosecution services across Europe. General mission of the Councils of Prosecutors, their composition, competence and powers, functioning and decision-making process will be examined and relevant recommendations will be provided.