“Due to the health crisis of COVID-19, the CEPEJ continues its work by adapting its working methods to the requirements of health safety and telework".

The news on this page report on the activities carried out in these exceptional circumstances. The gradual return of the Secretariat to the premises of the Council of Europe began in mid-May in accordance with the instructions of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Despite the health crisis, the implementation of cooperation programmes has continued as much as possible. The Secretariat of the CEPEJ reports on the state of progress of the joint European Union / Council of Europe co-operation programmes.

• Read the document about the state of implementation of CEPEJ cooperation programmes

In setting up the European Commission for  the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) at the end of 2002, at the initiative of the European  ministers of Justice who met in London (2000), the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe wanted to establish an innovative body for improving the quality and efficiency of the European judicial systems and  strengthening the court users’ confidence in such systems.

The CEPEJ develops concrete measures and tools aimed at policy makers and judicial practitioners in order to:

• Analyse the functioning of judicial systems and orientate public policies of justice
• Have a better knowledge of judicial timeframes and optimize judicial time management
• Promote the quality of the public service of justice
• Facilitate the implementation of European standrards in the field of justice
• Support member states in their reforms on court organisations

The CEPEJ also contributes with specific expertise to debates about the functioning of the justice system in order to provide a forum for discussion and proposals and bring the users closer to their justice system. (Read more)

• Case weighting in judicial systems - CEPEJ Studies No. 28 (2nd July 2020)
• "DECLARATION ON LESSONS LEARNT AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THE JUDICIARY DURING AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC" (10 June 2020)