The training session on “Application of standards of independence and impartiality of courts and judges (Article 6 of the European Convention)” took place on 22 February 2023 in Zagreb. In total 23 judges from municipal and county courts, from all over Croatia attended the training which was delivered by two tutors: Ms Ivana Čačić, judge of the Municipal Civil Court in Zagreb and Mr Krešimir Nikolić, senior advisor of the Croatian Representative before the European Court of Human Rights. The training was dedicated to the relevant standards of independence and impartiality of courts and judges in the case law of the ECHR and included practical cases. The civil law aspects of judicial independence and impartiality were discussed. Specific focus was put on the cases of conflict of interest.

This is the fourth training session in the training program developed under the Project in consultation with the project partners – the Judicial Academy of Croatia and the Office of the Representative of the Republic of Croatia before the European Court of Human Rights. The training programme is based on the recommendations from the Training Needs Assessment and takes into account the interests of target groups (criminal, civil, and administrative law practitioners), the availability of respective materials and HELP courses adapted for Croatia, and the recommendations of CoE monitoring bodies.

The Project “Promotion of the rule of law and fundamental rights through high-quality online trainings in the Croatian Judiciary” implemented by the Council of Europe (CoE) in cooperation with the European Commission DG REFORM is aimed at providing support to the Judicial Academy of Croatia to improve the methodology, tools and expertise to design and deliver high-quality training. The Croatian judiciary should be strengthened through development of remotely accessible training resources, and specifically through training focusing on the existing standards in the field of human rights protection and the rule of law, and their practical application.

The Project “Promotion of the rule of law and fundamental rights through high-quality online trainings in the Croatian Judiciary” is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM).