In the lead-up to new Polish legislation transposing the EU anti-SLAPP Directive, 27 judges and prosecutors from Poland, Czechia, Greece and Armenia gathered in Gdańsk for an intensive training organised by the Council of Europe, Poland’s National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution, and the CEELI Institute (Czechia). The training, held from 1 to 3 July 2026, equipped participants with practical tools to identify and dismiss strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) - an urgent measure to safeguard freedom of expression and democratic discourse.

Several months before the new law enters into force, the Council of Europe shared its expertise by advising national authorities on the legislation’s preparation, ensuring it reflects European standards. Central to the training was the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2, which defines indicators and actionable steps for judges to recognise and quickly dismiss abusive lawsuits that threaten open public debate. Interactive group discussions, case studies, and practical exercises helped participants explore these safeguards in depth, bridging EU and Council of Europe frameworks to national judicial practice.

Feedback from the event revealed strong learning gains: participants’ average self-rated competency jumped from 1.9/5 to 4.6/5 after the training, and 94% of all component ratings reflected high usefulness. Attendees especially valued access to real case scenarios and the practical connections made between international legal instruments and their everyday responsibilities.

This initiative, led by the CoE Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, reflects the Council of Europe’s commitment to promoting freedom of expression and supporting member states in safeguarding democratic participation through robust legal tools.