About sixty participants from Ministries of Justice, representatives of Councils of State, judges, legal professionals and lawyers from 7 of the Southern Mediterranean regions (Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine* and Tunisia) took part on 8 April in an online Round Table on the lessons learned from the health crisis and the innovative working methods implemented within the judicial bodies. It was mentioned that the CEPEJ Declaration, adopted in June 2020, (available in Arabic) constitutes a reference of good practices already observed. The intensive use of information technologies in the region is today a reality, which must however be thought as an organisational system. Some southern Mediterranean countries have adopted provisions to regulate videoconferences. Morocco, for example, has included it in a master plan for the digital transformation of justice. Lebanon and Egypt have also developed the use of videoconferencing as a priority.

The priority cases are those involving personal freedom, but also urgent cases, particularly those involving the protection of minors and domestic violence.

Pursuing regional dialogue between beneficiaries from the Southern Mediterranean and the exchange of good practices can contribute positively to the proper functioning of the judicial systems in the region in the context of the health crisis.

This round table was organised in the framework of the joint European Union /Council of Europe programme "Regional Support to Reinforce Human rights, Rule of Law and Democracy in the Southern Mediterranean", co-financed by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the later.

Interventions :

• Introduction by Mr Jean-Paul Jean (France), Honorary President of the Chamber of the Court of Cassation, Secretary General of the Association of Supreme Judicial Courts of the Francophonie (AHJUCAF) [in French]
• Mr. Mohammad Raslan (Egypt), Vice-President of the Council of State and Secretary General of the Arab Union of Administrative Judiciary [in Arabic]
• Mr. Abdelilah Lahkim Bennani (Morocco), Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice [in French]
• Mr Mongi Chalghoum (Tunisia), President of Chamber at the Court of Cassation and CEPEJ expert [in French]
• Mr. Habib Rizkallah (Lebanon), First Acting President of the Beirut Court of Appeal [in Arabic]
• Judge Zahai Betawi (Palestine*), member of the Inspection Department at High Judiciary Council [in Arabic].

Conclusions of the round table

* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of Council of Europe and European Union member States on this issue.