Speaking points for the opening of the 44th plenary meeting of the CEPEJ by Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law
Wednesday, 4 June 9:30
Room 9, Palais de l’Europe
Dear Minister, dear President of the CEPEJ, dear members and observers,
Allow me to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the CEPEJ for its dedicated work in strengthening the efficiency and quality of justice, and more widely in upholding the rule of law.
Your role in supporting judicial systems that promote the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time is deeply appreciated, as is your ability to collect and share innovative and practical experiences from across Europe and beyond.
The active involvement of justice professionals in your work is greatly valued. The three networks managed by CEPEJ, bringing together national correspondents, pilot courts and cyberjustice specialists ensure that your actions and tools are rooted in concrete judicial practices. Your complementarity with the work of other Council of Europe bodies is also key to contribute to our common mission of protecting human rights.
Improving the efficiency of judicial systems requires the CEPEJ to adapt continuously its working methods to meet the evolving needs. Your decision to reform the evaluation process of judicial systems is an important step. Reducing the cycle from two years to one and focusing on the most relevant indicators will allow to provide more frequently updated data and analyses. We are aware that this may be an additional burden for Member States, but in return the questionnaire should be drastically reduced. We believe that this new format will better support national reforms and respond to emerging challenges concerning justice.
The growing use of Artificial Intelligence in the judiciary is undoubtedly one of such emerging topics. The Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence provides a foundation for the proper use of AI in a range of sectors, including the justice system. It sets out a framework that now needs to be filled with concrete substance. The role of the CEPEJ in contributing to this effort, specifically within the justice sector, is instrumental. The CEPEJ Ethical Charter and the Resource Centre on the use of Artificial Intelligence in judiciaries are examples of the valuable instruments already developed, and I encourage you to continue this important work.
The heavy workload in courts – which digitalisation of justice can help reducing - has an adverse effect not only on the length of judicial proceedings, but also on working conditions of judges and court staff. This greatly undermines the attractiveness of a judicial career, particularly among the younger generations. Your ongoing reflection on work-life balance in the judiciary and the measurement of court workloads are therefore both timely and highly valuable for Member States.
Looking ahead, you will soon begin work on the definition of your future priorities. You may have to address sensitive and complex issues, such as: What should be the place of judges in the digital justice? How to strike the right balance between quality and efficiency of justice using measurable indicators?
In this context, in October you are invited, in the framework of the Maltese Presidency, to hold the meetings of all the CEPEJ Working Groups in Valletta. This will be the occasion to draft your activity programme for the next 2 years and your Action Plan for 2026-2029.
In concluding my intervention, I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank the Minister of Justice, as well as the President of the CEPEJ, for this invitation and for Malta's constant support for the work of the CEPEJ. I wish you a very fruitful meeting.
