The Council of Europe, with the support of the European Union and in partnership with the Court of Cassation and the Ministry of Justice, organised a conference on 7 and 8 November in Tunis entitled: "The reorganisation of the Court of Cassation: cross-views to renew the pact of trust between litigants and the judiciary". The purpose of this event was to present, reflect and discuss methods and modalities to strengthen the purpose, usefulness and efficiency of the supreme court.
The conference was opened by the Minister of Justice, Mr Mohamed Karim El JAMOUSSI, Mr Fethi ARROUM, Prosecutor General of the Court of Cassation, Mr Bechir METOUI, Vice-President of the First President of the Court of Cassation, Mr Youssef BOUZAKHER, President of the High Council of Magistracy, Ms Malika MZERI, President of the Council of Magistracy, Mr Bechir METOUI, Vice-President of the First President of the Court of Cassation, Mr M. Brahim BOUDERBALA, President of the National Order of Tunisian Lawyers, Mr Tim CARTWRIGHT, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tunisia and Mrs Sophie VANHAEVERBEKE, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation in Tunisia.
During these two days, approximately 200 participants, including judges, prosecutors general, lawyers and members of the Inspectorate General, the Higher Institute of Magistracy, the High judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice, took stock of progress and familiarised themselves with different contexts, methods and problems based on the presentation of experiences from European countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Latvia). Alternating presentation sessions and thematic round tables, the conference format made it possible to consider different approaches and approaches to managing the increase in the number of appeals and to increase knowledge of the case law of the Court of Cassation.
Arroum stressed the importance of this Conference in considering the current challenges of the Court of Cassation and proposing reliable solutions in the light of relevant foreign experiences, particularly in terms of filtering appeals and reducing the volume of cases.
Mr. Metoui insisted on the institutional and functional reorganisation of the Court of Cassation as a high court responsible for monitoring the proper application of the law and the unification of case law.
Mr Cartwright, for his part, recalled the added value of the Council of Europe, particularly in terms of its expertise and legal instruments, which should enable Tunisia to consolidate its legitimate place in a Euro-Mediterranean legal area.
Finally, Mrs. Vanhaeverbeke recalled that "the elections that have just ended have shown that the Tunisian population is demanding more justice and equity. It expects rapid, visible impacts in their daily lives. This seminar is one of many small and large steps that must contribute to improving the justice system”.
This conference is part of the programme "Improving the functioning, performance and access to justice in Tunisia" (AP-JUST), 90% funded by the European Union and 10% by the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.
Its main objectives are to strengthen the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and to improve the quality of and access to justice.