“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.

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mr Roland Eshuis on 20 April 2020 of Covid19 in Rotterdam. Exactly 15 years ago, on 2 May 2005, at an International Conference in The Hague, Roland laid the foundation for the CEPEJ Evaluation Report on Judicial Systems which is still in existence today. Roland was the national correspondent of the CEPEJ in respect of the Netherlands and in this capacity provided all the data and statistics necessary for the evaluation exercise. Our warmest thoughts go to his family and his colleagues at the WODC. We will miss his keen intelligence, his sense of humour and his great kindness.

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)

18th CEPEJ Newsletter (February 2020)
Theme: Presentation of the awarded projects of the 2019 Crystal Scales of Justice Prize

Documents adopted at the 33rd plenary meeting of the CEPEJ on 5 and 6 December 2019 :

 Breaking up judges’ isolation - Guidelines to improve the judge's skills and competences, strengthen knowledge sharing and collaboration, and move beyond a culture of judicial isolation  

 Mediation awareness programme for judges

 Mediation awareness and training programme for notaries

 Training programme for lawyers to assist clients in mediation

 Glossary of CEPEJ definitions

 CEPEJ Activity Programme 2020-2021