At a glance

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.

A short movie presenting the CEPEJ has been realised by the Directorate of Communication of the Council of Europe.

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.
 

The creation of the CEPEJ on 18 September 2002, more than 15 years ago, demonstrated the will of the Council of Europe to promote the rule of law and fundamental rights in Europe, on the basis of the European Convention of Human Rights, especially its Articles 5 (Right to liberty and security)j, 6 (Right to a fair trial), 13 (Righ to an effective remedy) and 14 (Prohibition of discrimination).

For 15 years, the CEPEJ's activities have consisted in assisting member states to improve their judicial systems by increasing efficiency and quality, and guaranteeing their conformity with Council of Europe standards. The CEPEJ promotes the requirements arising from the European Convention and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the field of justice. The CEPEJ is composed of working groups on the evaluation of judicial systems, the quality of justice, mediation, the management of judicial delays, a network of national correspondents, pilot courts and experts. During the last 15 years, the CEPEJ has become a reference for decision-makers and legal professionals, beyond the borders of Europe.

  Link to the publication to mark the 15th anniversary of the CEPEJ