January 2019- December 2022

Context of the project

The European Union is supporting the reform of justice in Tunisia through important cooperation programmes. As part of its neighbourhood policy, the Council of Europe has established close cooperation with Tunisia from 2011, to support democratic political transition based on common values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. One of the priorities of this partnership has been and remains supporting the justice reform. The two international organisations, which work in partnership on the basis of shared values and standards, have decided to continue sharing their efforts in the framework of this joint programme supporting justice sector reform in Tunisia.

Project's objectives

The "AP-JUST" programme aims at strengthening, further developing, deepening and sustaining justice reform with a view to improve the quality and effectiveness of day to day justice service functioning provided by courts to Tunisian litigants.

Expected outcomes

• Laws and policies in the area of justice comply with European standards;
• Capacities of justice stakeholders: judges, lawyers, clercks... are strengthened and litigants benefit from a better quality of services;
• Functioning and governance of the judicial system are improved and more efficient.

Main activities

• Counselling, analysis and expertise to review legislative and policy frameworks: needs assessments, mapping of legal, institutional and political frameworks; legal reviews, opinions, reports and recommendations based on the methodologies of the Council of Europe with the participation of the Council of Europe's networks of experts;
• Capacity building: tailored assistance; counselling, training/training of trainers and other forms of technical support; availability of tools and methodologies for the implementation of priority reforms aimed at developing new capacities and competencies.
• Networking and peer exchange: participation of Tunisian experts in Council of Europe networks; round tables/expert working groups, peer reviews and exchanges of good practices.
• Communication and outreach tools: awarenessraising and advocacy activities; publications, translations and dissemination of relevant materials in Arabic, French and English; online awareness activities and social networks

Project beneficiaries and stakeholders

Ministry of Justice, High Judiciary Institute (ISM), High Judiciary Council (CSM), Tunisian courts, Tunisian judges and prosecutors

• Declaration on lessons learnt and Challenges faced by the judiciary during and after the Covid-19 Pandemic 
• Overview of the CEPEJ (information leaflet)
• SATURN revised guidelines for judicial time management (CEPEJ(2014)16) - 12 December 2014
• The 15 main guidelines of the SATURN Centre for judicial time management
• Handbook (summary of the methodology) for the implementation of the tools of the SATURN Centre for judicial time management
• A model of report concerning judicial time management
• Guidelines on the role of court-appointed experts in judicial proceedings of Council of Europe's Member States (CEPEJ(2014)14), 12 December 2014
• Handbook for conducting satisfaction surveys aimed at Court users in Council of Europe's member States (CEPEJ(2010)1 - 26 novembre 2010)
• Handbook for satisfaction surveys aimed at lawyers (CEPEJ(2010)1)
• Checklist for promoting the quality of justice and the courts (CEPEJ(2008)2), 3 juillet 2008
• Recommandation CM/Rec(2010)12 on judges: independence, efficiency and responsibilities (17 November 2010)
• Guidelines for a better implementation of the existing Council of Europe's recommendation on enforcement (CEPEJ(2009)11Rev2) - 17 December 2009)

• Joint Programme - South Programme 3 (2018-2020)
• Country profile Tunisia - CEPEJ website
• Website of the Office of the Directorate General of Programmes of the Council of Europe (ODGP)
• Website of the Office of the Council of Europe in Tunis (Tunisia) [in French]
• Internet website of the european Union - Tunisia [in French]

International conference for sharing experiences on the reorganisation of the Court of Cassation in Tunisia - 7 and 8 November 2019