European Day of Justice

The European Day of Justice is celebrated each year around 25 October. It aims to bring justice closer to citizens, to inform them on their rights and to promote the work of the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the field of justice, through simulation of procedures and information sessions. This day is open to all European citizens, students and people who work in the field of justice.

European Day of Justice - 2026 events

Slovak Republic - Open doors day of Consitutional Court - 8 October

The Slovak Republic hold an open doors day at the Consitutional Court. This was the opportunity for the general public to visit the Court as well as attended an awards ceremony for winners of the literary and art competition for primary and secondary schools on the subject of justice. (Find out more about the competition here)

Find out more about this event here (available in Slovak only)

Latvia - Lecture on EU law - 16 October

On 16 October, the Judicial Academy of Latvia welcomed Paul Craig, Emeritus Professor of English Law at the University of Oxford and one of Europe’s leading authorities on EU law, for a lecture "EU Values: Scope, Application and Impact". The lecture explored what it means to uphold the values of the European Union in practice and how these values shape the interpretation and application of EU law.

Republic of Moldova - Study Visits at the Supreme Court of Justice - 22 October - 20 November

As part of European Day of Justice, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Moldova will host a number of study visits aimed at young people and future legal professionals. Young members of the National Youth Platform for Active Participation, as well as students from the Law Students’ Association of the Faculty of Law at the State University of Moldova (USM), will be welcomed on 22 October 2026, whilst student members of the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) will pay a visit on 20 November 2026. These meetings will offer participants the opportunity to discover how the country’s Supreme Court operates, to discuss with its representatives the role of the judiciary and access to rights, and to gain a better understanding of the importance of the rule of law and active citizen participation.

Greece - Strengthening Democracy: 50 Years of the ECHR Re-ratification and 75 Years of the Council of Europe - 23 October

On Friday 23 October, as part of European Day of Justice, the proceedings of the commemorative event “Strengthening Democracy – 50 Years since the Re-ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights and 75 Years since the Establishment of the Council of Europe” were presented in Greece, at the Greek Council of State.

See the vidéo about this event here (greek only)

Italy - ICALI's International Child Abduction Conference - 23 October

As part of European Day of Justice, the association "International Child Abduction Italy" (ICALI) organised a high-level international conference bringing together judges, academics, and legal experts from various European associations (including ASIME, CALA, DIAL, and ICABEL). Philippe Lortie, first secretary of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) delivered an introductory presentation.

Find out more here

Lithuania - “You Ask – We Answer!”: Free Legal Consultations by Lithuanian Courts - 23 October

The initiative offers residents free legal consultations with judicial assistants to help them better understand their rights. Participants can ask general legal questions about everyday issues.

The event will take place at district and regional courts across Lithuania, promoting legal awareness and improving public access to justice.

Finland - Open Doors at the Courts - 23 - 26 October

Several Finnish courts will open their doors to the public and students on Friday 23 October 2026 and Monday 26 October 2026. This year, a total of eight courts from different parts of Finland will participate in the event.

Greece - Illumination of Council of State - 25 October

The Greek Council of State was illuminated in the colours of Europe to mark the European Day of Justice.
A day dedicated to our shared European values, the rule of law, and the importance of an independent judiciary as a cornerstone of democracy.

Portugal - The European Day of Justice - Its meaning and importance - 25 October

Video prepared by the Portuguese CEPEJ contact point, explaining the meaning of the European Day of Justice, as an opportunity to raise awareness concerning the importance of the Justice System as a pillar of Democracy and the Rule of Law, and the need to ensure its efficiency as a condition for the full enjoyment of personal rights to all citizens. This video will be displayed at the beginning off all training events scheduled to the mentioned date, in the framework of CEPEJ's initial and continuous training programs.

Italy - Freedom of expression, reputation, image and privacy and AI: dialogue between law and digital culture - 26 October

Conference targeted mostly at high school students on how civil law and justice is applied to the complex and at times problematic issue of balancing the right to a free expression (including through social media) and the rights of individuals and groups to have their reputation, image and other rights safeguarded.

Ukraine - Gala Reception dedicated to the opening of the Year of Law 2026 and Lawyer’s Day - 28 October

The Ukrainian Bar Association has joined the European Day of Justice initiative through the Gala Reception dedicated to the opening of the Year of Law 2026 and Lawyer’s Day, a professional holiday celebrating Ukraine’s legal community.

This event aim to highlight the importance of the rule of law, the role of the legal profession in upholding justice, and the values of the European legal community. This initiative will provide a meaningful opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to European standards of justice and to strengthening public trust in the legal system.

Slovenia - Open Day at the Supreme Court and Reform of the Judicial Map - 4 November

In November 2026, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia will publicly honour the Slovenian Day of Justice (November 4) and the European Day of Justice (October 24) by organising an Open Day of the Supreme Court for the general public. The event, aimed at promoting the transparency and understanding of the judiciary, will take place in the court palace in Ljubljana. For a third year in a row, visitors will get to know the work and protocol rooms of the Supreme Court under the guidance of the Public Relations Office.

The final months of 2026 will be marked by intensive communication activities by the Supreme Court and other courts aimed at informing the general public about the reform of the judicial map and the new organisation of courts of first instance. As of 1 January 2027, all local courts will be organisationally transformed into external departments of district courts. Key information for court users, together with frequently asked questions, is available on the courts’ websites and is being regularly updated.

Lithuania - The Rule of Law in Practice: A Mock Trial at Judicial Academy of Latvia- 6 November - 27 November

To raise awareness of the roles of judges and lawyers and help students better understand the rule of law, how fair decisions are reached, and the roles and responsibilities of those involved in court proceedings, mock trials will be held at the Judicial Academy of Latvia on 6, 20 and 27 November. Working alongside real judges, students will examine civil and criminal law cases and gain first-hand experience of what it means to take part in court proceedings.

Belgium - Protecting Legal Professionals and Safeguarding Justice Systems - 16 November

Against a backdrop of declining respect for the rule of law, rising digital risks, and increasing pressure on the independence of the judiciary, the conference will examine three interconnected challenges: the physical and personal protection of judges, lawyers, and other justice professionals; cybersecurity and data protection within justice systems; and the integrity of European justice institutions in the face of political pressure, corruption, and public trust deficits.

Through a keynote address, scene-setting presentations, and three dedicated roundtables, participants will explore topics including the Luxembourg Convention, harassment of justice professionals, digital sovereignty, the use of AI in justice, judicial appointment procedures, and the threat of infiltration by criminal organisations.

The event aims to foster cross-professional dialogue and identify best practices that can strengthen the resilience and independence of justice systems across Europe.

Find out more here

Media resources

To celebrate the European Day of Justice, customisable posters can be downloaded in 23 languages . Should you need an indesign format of the posters, please contact the CEPEJ Secretariat.