The Management Committee will consist of representatives of the states who have joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement. It will be responsible for overseeing the administrative, financial, and strategic policy aspects of the Special Tribunal, including approving budgets, electing key officials, facilitating cooperation and burden-sharing among members and associate members, ensuring the smooth transition to a future residual mechanism, and advancing the Special Tribunal's strategic and institutional objectives.
The Chambers
The Chambers will adjudicate in three formations: a Pre-Trial Judge (one judge), Trial Chambers (three judges), and an Appeals Chamber (five judges).
Members and associate members of the Management Committee can propose candidates for the 15-person roster of judges. A nominated candidate does not need to be a national of a country that is member or associate member of the Management Committee.
An independent advisory panel will issue recommendations on the suitability of candidates, following which the Management Committee will elect judges by secret ballot by an absolute majority for a non-renewable nine-year period.
The judges will elect, from among themselves, the President of the Special Tribunal and a Vice-President, for a three-year term, renewable once.
The President of the Special Tribunal will assign judges from the roster to the formations of the Special Tribunal. The President will represent the Special Tribunal externally.
The Office of the Prosecutor
The Prosecutor will be responsible for conducting independent and impartial investigations and prosecutions.
Candidates for the post of Prosecutor may be proposed by countries that are members or associate members of the Management Committee. Nominated candidates do not need to be nationals of a country that is a member or associate member of the Management Committee. The advisory panel will make recommendations, following which the Prosecutor will be elected by secret ballot by an absolute majority of the Management Committee. The term of office will be seven years, non-renewable.
The Prosecutor will be assisted by at least one Deputy Prosecutor, elected in the same way from a list of candidates provided by the Prosecutor. The term of office for the Deputy Prosecutor will also be seven years, non-renewable.
The Registry
The Registry will be responsible for the administration and operational support of the Special Tribunal. It will consist of a Victims and Witnesses Unit, a Detention Unit, and an independent Defence Unit. It will be headed by the Registrar, who will liaise with national authorities, including those of the host country, for example regarding custody of defendants.
The Advance Team
In January 2026, the Council of Europe and the European Union reached an agreement on the financing of an advance team to establish the Special Tribunal.
The aim of this joint project is to create a team of staff to prepare the institutional, logistical and legal foundations of the tribunal.
This includes groundwork for the election of the Special Tribunal’s judges and prosecutor and the development of the tribunal’s rules of procedure and evidence, as well as its court management system.
The advance team will also help to develop political support for the Special Tribunal and foster its engagement with stakeholders.
The European Union will contribute 10 million euros to the Special Tribunal Advance Team (STAT) project through its Foreign Policy Instruments.
The project, which will be implemented by the Council of Europe, will last for a maximum 24 months, or until the work can be funded via the future Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal.
Disclaimer: This activity is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or the Council of Europe.
The Management Committee
