Georgia: Enhancing the accountability and the efficiency of the judicial system and the professionalism of lawyers

January 2020 – February 2023

The activities are organised in the framework of the Project “Support to further strengthening the efficiency and quality of the judicial system in the Republic of Moldova”, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II.

An earlier phase of this programme (January 2015 - December 2017) was supported by the European Union.

Context of the Project

The CEPEJ started working in Georgia in the framework of the European Union / Council of Europe Joint project “Implementation of judicial reforms”, Component “Enhancing the accountability and the efficiency of the judicial system and the professionalism of lawyers” which is part of PGG II. The Project is in line with the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020 – 2023, and in line with the EU priorities, as defined in the “Eastern Partnership – 20 Deliverables for 2020” which underline the need to evaluate the impact of the implemented key judicial reforms in Georgia.

Objectives of the Project

The objectives of the Project are to assist the Georgian authorities to:

to reduce judicial delays and backlogs in courts
to strengthen data and judicial statistics collection for courts, case management and judicial services by providing practical advises, tools and methodology;
to improve judicial training and court management by working at the levels of the High School of Justice and courts.

Expected outcomes

The efficiency and quality of courts are enhanced through the application of CEPEJ tools, methodology and recommendations at national level;
The mechanisms for judicial transparency and accountability are strengthened;
Court users benefit from more accountable, transparent and efficient functioning of the court system.

Project beneficiaries and stakeholders

The main beneficiaries and stakeholders of the Project are the High Council of Justice, the High School of Justice, the Courts of General Jurisdiction and the court users.

Contacts

Council of Europe - Strasbourg

Jovana Matic

Project coordinator

+33 (0)3 90 21 63 68

Council of Europe office in Tbilissi (Georgia)

Ushangi Bakhtadze
Project Officer

Gvantsa Gedenidze
Project Assistant

Translated CEPEJ documents

Newsroom

Back Breaking judges’ isolation during COVID19 pandemic on the agenda of the CEPEJ in Latvia and Georgia

The CEPEJ Guidelines to improve the judge's skills and competences, strengthen knowledge sharing and collaboration, and move beyond a culture of judicial isolation provide concrete tools to remedy to judicial isolation which could have been worsened with the health crisis.

The CEPEJ activities in Georgia and Latvia focus on this aspect.

On 17 February 2021: An “Evening talks” livestream session has been organised on the Facebook page of the Council of Europe office of Georgia. The session highlighted the elements and conditions that enable judges to break out of their isolation and provide a better quality of service (more information).

On 19 February 2021: the CEPEJ in cooperation with the Latvian Ministry of justice will organise a workshop on breaking up judge’s isolation during COVID 19 pandemic. Judges and representatives of the Latvian Court Administration will have an exchange of views about their experience, notably about working remotely and holding court hearings during the COVID19 pandemic, and will be presented experiences from other Council of Europe member States. They will also discuss the ways to strengthen knowledge sharing and collaboration, and move beyond a culture of judicial isolation.

The Latvian Project: “Strengthening the access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services, as well as support to the development of judicial policies and to increased quality of court management”, is funded by the European Union via the Structural Reform Support Programme and in cooperation with the European Commission's DG Reform.

The Georgian project “Enhancing the accountability and the efficiency of the judicial system and the professionalism of lawyers” is part of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme Partnership for Good Governance II co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe.

Georgia and Latvia 17 & 19 February 2021