As a part of the co-operation framework co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, known as the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” (Horizontal Facility), the Council of Europe is implementing the Action “Strengthening Legal Guarantees for Independent and Impartial Tribunals”. The Action is implemented in close partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the High Judicial Council, the State Prosecutorial Council and the Judicial Academy. The Action also includes a wide spectrum of different national stakeholders, as well as civil society organisations engaged in the field of rule of law.

This Action aims to strengthen the guarantees for independent and impartial tribunals (Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights) by supporting and initiating measures to build the capacity of the High Judicial Council (HJC) and of the State Prosecutorial Council (SPC) in countering and dealing effectively with undue internal and external pressure on the decision making process of individual judges, prosecutors, judicial and prosecutorial assistants. The Action also aims to protect judges, prosecutors, judicial and prosecutorial assistants from such risks by developing a set of internal documents to strengthen guarantees of independence, and develop a professional culture of impartiality.

The duration of the Action is set at 22 months, with an overall budget of EUR 400,000 and is expected to be completed by 28 February 2019.