Newsroom
Tribute to Antonio Vercher Noguera
It is with great sadness and profound sorrow that we learnt of the passing of a dear colleague and friend, Antonio Vercher Noguera (Spain), who had only recently retired as the Chief Prosecutor for Environment and Land Planning of Spain. All CCPE members and CCPE Secretariat express their deepest...
The Working Group examines the structure of the CCPE’s future Opinion on providing efficient support and safeguards for prosecutors in order to enable an effective prosecution service
The CCPE Working Group met in Strasbourg on 19-20 February 2026 to discuss the draft structure of the CCPE Opinion No. 21 (2026) on providing efficient support and safeguards for prosecutors in order to enable an effective prosecution service. The members of the Working Group discussed and...
The CCPE holds its 20th plenary meeting and adopts a new Opinion on diversity and inclusivity in prosecution services
The 20th plenary meeting of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) was held on 16-17 October 2025 in Strasbourg. Opinion No. 20 (2025) on diversity and inclusivity within prosecution services was examined and adopted. Building notably on recommendations of the Committee of...
The Working Group examines draft Opinion on diversity and inclusivity within prosecution services
The CCPE Working Group met in Strasbourg on 22-23 May 2025 to discuss draft Opinion No. 20 (2025) on diversity and inclusivity within prosecution services prepared by the CCPE expert, Mr Niall Crowley (Ireland), based on the guidance given by the Working Group and the structure developed at its...
The Working Group examines the structure of the CCPE’s future Opinion on diversity and inclusivity within prosecution services
The CCPE Working Group met in Strasbourg on 20-21 February 2025 to discuss the draft structure of the CCPE Opinion No. 20 (2025) on diversity and inclusivity within prosecution services. The members of the Working Group discussed and finalised the draft structure of the Opinion prepared on the...
The CCPE holds its 19th plenary meeting
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...
The Working Group examines the draft Opinion on managing prosecution services to ensure their independence and impartiality
The CCPE Working Group met in Strasbourg on 23-24 May 2024 to discuss the draft Opinion No. 19 (2024) on managing prosecution services to ensure their independence and impartiality. The draft Opinion was prepared through the collaborative efforts of the Working Group and the Secretariat, under...
The Working Group examines the structure of the CCPE’s future Opinion on managing prosecution services to ensure their independence and impartiality
The CCPE Working Group met in Strasbourg on 15-16 February 2024 to discuss the draft structure for the CCPE Opinion No. 19 (2024) on managing prosecution services to ensure their independence and impartiality. Members of the Working Group considered and developed further this draft structure...
The CCPE holds its 18th plenary meeting
The CCPE’s 18th plenary meeting was held on 19-20 October 2023 in Strasbourg. Opinion No. 18 (2023) on Councils of Prosecutors as key bodies of prosecutorial self-governance has been adopted. It notes that Councils of Prosecutors are becoming increasingly widespread in member States, in light of...
Conference on Prosecutorial Independence in Upholding the Rule of Law and CCPE standards
Prosecutorial independence in upholding the rule of law was discussed during the conference organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia on 1-2 July 2023 in Yerevan, Armenia, within the framework of the joint programme of the European...
Reinforcing the co-operation with the CEPEJ
The 40th plenary meeting of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) took place on 15-16 June 2023 in Strasbourg. Ms Jana Zezulova, President of the CCPE, and Mr Artashes Melikyan, Secretary of the CCPE, took part and contributed to this meeting on behalf of the CCPE. The...
CCPE draft Opinion No. 18 (2023) discussed by the Working Group
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...
The Working Group examines the structure of the CCPE’s future Opinion on the Councils of Prosecutors as key bodies of prosecutorial self-governance
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...
Exchange of views between the CCPE and the CDPC
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 CDPC.
Outcome of the CCPE’s 17th plenary meeting
The CCPE had its 17th plenary meeting on 3-4 October 2022 in a hybrid format, held in Strasbourg and online. The Opinion No. 17 (2022) of the CCPE on the role of prosecutors in the protection of the environment was adopted. It stresses that environmental crimes and related infringements are a...
The President of the CCPE presents its work to the Committee of Ministers
The President of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors, Mr Antonio Vercher Noguera (Spain), presented today to the Committee of Ministers the CCPE’s work and activities since February 2020 and its priorities for the future. The President underlined the impact of CCPE’s standards in...
CCPE standards highlighted for prosecutors in Madrid
Mr Antonio Vercher Noguera (Spain), CCPE President, took an extensive part in the Training Program for Spanish prosecutors on a New Model of Criminal Procedure from the Fundamental Rights Perspective organised on 23-24 May 2022 in Madrid by Spanish authorities. The program pursued the objective...
5-6 May 2022: CCPE co-organises European Conference of Prosecutors
The European Conference of Prosecutors is taking place on 5-6 May 2022 at the seat of the Regional Assembly in Palermo, Italy, within the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Conference is promoted by the Prosecutor General’s Office of...
Online platform “Judges and prosecutors for Ukraine”
Following the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, a self-help platform "Basecamp: judges and prosecutors for Ukraine" has been launched at the initiative of the Presidents of three Council of Europe committees: the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), the Consultative...
Exclusion of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe and suspension of all relations with Belarus
On 16 March 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision by which the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership. The decision was made in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe. As...
16-18 March 2022: CCPE contributes to the Judicial Ethics Course
The Judicial Ethics Course will take place on 16-18 March 2022 in Florence, Italy, within the framework of the Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The course will be based on the Council of Europe and European Union legal instruments, as well as the...
Rule of Law in Europe Conference, Lisbon
Mr Antonio Vercher Noguera (Spain), CCPE President, took part in the Conference on the Rule of Law in Europe organised on 9-10 December 2021 in Lisbon, Portugal, by the Association “Magistrats européens pour la démocratie et les libertés” (MEDEL), which has an observer status with the CCPE. Mr...
The CCPE adopts Opinion No. 16 (2021) on implications of decisions of international courts and treaty bodies as regards the practical independence of prosecutors
The CCPE adopted Opinion No. 16 (2021) at its 16th plenary meeting (25-26 November 2021).
Secondment opportunity in the field of legal co-operation
Are you an international, national, regional or local official, a judge, a prosecutor or otherwise eligible for a secondment to the Council of Europe in accordance with your national legislation? Would you like to work in the area of legal co-operation and contribute to the preservation of the...
CCPE President takes part in the webinar on the independence of prosecutors
Mr Antonio Vercher Noguera (Spain), President of the CCPE, spoke on 20 October 2021 at a webinar on the independence of prosecutors in Central Europe, organised by the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) together with the Prosecutor’s Office of Estonia. The webinar...
The Working Group meeting on the draft CCPE Opinion No. 16 (2021)
The CCPE Working Group met online from 17 to 18 June 2021 to work on the text of its draft Opinion No. 16 (2021) on the implications of decisions of international courts and treaty bodies for practical independence of prosecutors. The text under review was prepared on the basis of contributions...
The role of public prosecutors in emergency situations
The CCPE adopted in November 2020 its Opinion No. 15 (2020) on the role of prosecutors in emergency situations, in particular when facing a pandemic, highlighting the implementation of their usual but also new or extended functions in emergency situations, and how to overcome any challenges in...
The CCPE Working Group will discuss the implications of decisions of international courts and treaty bodies for practical independence of prosecutors
One of the key pillars of the rule of law is the independence of the justice system. No relationship of authority exists between judges and prosecutors and this is one of the fundamental guarantees for independent and fair trial. Given the diversity of legal systems in member States and...
Challenges for prosecutors to exercise their duties in a situation of a pandemic
The CCPE has adopted its Opinion No. 15 (2020) on “The role of prosecutors in emergency situations, in particular when facing a pandemic”. The Opinion emphasises that prosecutors throughout member States - and in fact all over the world - are currently facing the challenge of making sure that, in...
Participation of the President of the CCPE in the 8th annual meeting between the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Heads of monitoring and advisory bodies
Prosecutor José Manuel Santos Pais, President of the CCPE, took part, on 29 June 2020, in the 8th annual meeting between the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Heads of monitoring and advisory bodies held via videoconference in Strasbourg. Participants exchanged views as regards...
New topic for the CCPE 2020 Opinion on the role of prosecutors in emergency situations, in particular when facing a pandemic
The CCPE adopted a new topic for its Opinion No. 15 (2020) on the role of prosecutors in emergency situations, in particular when facing a pandemic. The Opinion aims – based on best European practices - to determine how the prosecution services can fulfil their mission with the highest quality...
2019 edition of the Report on the independence and impartiality of the prosecution services in the Council of Europe member States
The CCPE Bureau has published its Report on the independence and impartiality of the prosecution services in the Council of Europe member States (2019 edition). The Report covers the period from December 2017 to November 2019, and provides a summary of information submitted by CCPE members and...
Opinion of the CCPE Bureau concerning the legislative changes in the Republic of Moldova
On 20 February 2020, the CCPE Bureau adopted an Opinion following a request by the Superior Council of Prosecutors of the Republic of Moldova concerning the independence of prosecutors in the context of legislative changes as regards the prosecution service. Link to the Opinion
Implications of the decisions of international courts and treaty bodies as regards the practical independence of prosecutors
The Committee of Ministers mandated the CCPE to prepare and adopt, in 2020 and 2021, Opinions for its attention on issues relating to the status of prosecutors and the exercise of their functions, taking into account the Council of Europe Action Plan to strengthen the independence and...
The CCPE adopts an Opinion on the role of prosecutors in the fight against corruption and related economic and financial crime
At its plenary meeting in Paris on 21-22 November 2019, the CCPE adopted its Opinion No. 14 on the role of prosecutors in fighting corruption and related economic and financial crime which takes into account existing standards and instruments of the Council of Europe and other international...
Marrakech conference on "Justice and investment: challenges and issues"
Marrakech conference on "Justice and investment: challenges and issues" Following the success of the first edition of the Marrakech International Conference on Justice, organised in 2018 and dedicated to the independence of the judiciary from the perspective of guaranteeing the rights of...
Opinion of the Bureau of the CCPE on the independence of prosecutors in Romania
On 16 May 2019, the Bureau of the CCPE published an opinion following a request by the Romanian Movement for Defending the Status of Prosecutors as regards the situation on the independence of the prosecutors in Romania. Link to the Opinion of the Bureau of the CCPE
Finalisation of draft Opinion No. 14 on "the role of prosecutors in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crime"
The CCPE has been instructed by the Committee of Ministers to prepare an opinion on "the role of prosecutors in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crime". This opinion will first identify the particular challenges faced by public as well as individual prosecutors in the...
Morocco is an observer with the CCPE
On 2 May 2019, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe accepted the request of the Kingdom of Morocco to obtain observer status with the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE), in accordance with the applicable rules. In 2017 the Moroccan Public Prosecutor's Office was...
The CCPE will prepare an Opinion in 2019 on the role of the prosecutor in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crime
For 2019, the CCPE proposed to the Committee of Ministers to prepare an Opinion for 2019 on the role of the prosecutor in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crime. In response to the increase in financial crime in a globalised economy, the CCPE will review the various crimes...
The Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) adopts an opinion entitled "Independence, accountability and ethics of prosecutors"
The Council of Europe's Consultative Council of European Prosecutors adopted, during its last plenary meeting, its Opinion No. 13 entitled "Independence, accountability and ethics of prosecutors". In this new Opinion, prepared by its Working Group in 2018, the CCPE wished to refer to possible...
The CCPE Opinions now available in Azerbaijani language
Opinions No. 1 to 11 of the CCPE are now available in Azerbaijani for the Prosecutors. Link to the Opinions
Hf 14 – Montenegro – “Accountability of the judicial system” - Publication “CCPE Opinions” available for prosecutors in Montenegro
A new document which combines the translation into Montenegrin language of the twelve Opinions of the CCPE as well as the Recommendation Rec (2000) 19 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the Role of Public Prosecution in the Criminal Justice System, has been presented at the seminar...
Opinion of the CCPE Bureau on the compatibility with European standards of the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Serbia
The Bureau of the CCPE publish its Opinion following a request by the Prosecutors Association of Serbia to assess the compatibility with European standards of the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Serbia concerning the composition of the Prosecutorial Council and its functioning. Link...
Preparation of the CCPE Opinion on Independence, accountability and ethics of prosecutors
The CCPE Working group in charge of preparing draft Opinion No. 13 (2018) of the CCPE on Independence, accountability and ethics of prosecutors will meet in Paris on 7 and 8 June 2018. One of the main objectives of this opinion is to recall that the Public Prosecutor’s duties must be solely...
Tribute to Harald Range
We have been informed with great sadness of the death of our friend Harald Range, former Prosecutor General of Germany and first President of the CCPE. We will remember him as a great professional entirely devoted to the defense of the Rule of Law. All the members of the CCPE and its Secretariat...
Report on the independence and impartiality of the prosecution services in the Council of Europe member States in 2017
The report of the Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) has just been published. The report has been prepared following the proposal of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to ”develop the methodology and establish a regular in-house evaluation mechanism on...
Preparation of the CCPE Opinion on Independence, Accountability and Ethics of Prosecutors
The meeting of the CCPE working group, tasked with drafting Opinion No. 13 (2018) of the CCPE on the Independence, Accountability and Ethics of Prosecutors, took place in Strasbourg on 8 and 9 February 2018. During this session, the members of the Working Group examined a draft structure of the...
The Consultative Council of European Prosecutors adopts an Opinion on the role of prosecutors in relation to the rights of victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings
The CCPE recommends the implementation, in all member States, of a series of rights and protective measures for victims and witnesses in particular when vulnerables, in order for them to receive appropriate support in an Opinion adopted at its 12th plenary meeting held in Strasbourg on 23 and 24...
Plenary meeting of the CCPE and adoption of the Opinion on "The right of victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons"
The 12th plenary meeting of the CCPE took place on 23 and 24 November 2017 in Strasbourg. On that occasion, the CCPE adopted Opinion No. 12 on "the rights of victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons". The members of the CCPE also discussed a mechanism for the regular internal assessment of the...
New website for the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) - www.coe.int/ccpe
The CCPE is a consultative body to the Committee of Ministers composed of high level prosecutors of all 47 member States of the Council of Europe. It is entrusted withthe particular task to prepare opinions for the Committee of Ministers on issues related to the prosecution service, to promote...
Meeting of the CCPE working group in charge of drawing up Opinion No. 12 on the rights of victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons
The meeting of the CCPE Working group in charge of drawing up Opinion No. 12 on the rights of victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons took place in Paris on 15 and 16 June 2017 in view to examine the draft structure of the Opinion. The meeting of the Bureau took also place on this occasion....
Plenary meeting of the CCPE and adoption of the Opinion on “The quality and efficiency of the work of prosecutors, including major current challenges in fighting terrorism and organised crime”
The 11th plenary meeting of the CCPE took place in Strasbourg on 17 and 18 November 2016. On this occasion, the CCPE adopt Opinion No. 11 on “The quality and efficiency of the work of prosecutors, including major current challenges in fighting terrorism and organised crime”. The CCPE members also...
Joint mission to Rabat of the CEPEJ, the CCJE, the CCPE and the Venice Commission
A team of CEPEJ, CCPE, CCJE and Venice Commission experts visited Rabat from 27 to 29 September 2016 to meet the authorities of the Ministry of Justice and Freedom for a benchmarking exercise in the field of the Council of Justice and the status of judicial professionals.
Following the events that have taken place in Turkey in the recent days, the Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) expresses its position on the situation of prosecutors
Statement from the Bureau of the CCPE (22 July 2016)
Report from the CCJE and the CCPE on the main challenges for judicial impartiality and independence in Council of Europe member States
The Bureaus of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) and the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) have jointly submitted to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe a report on the “Challenges for judicial independence and impartiality in the member states of the...
