The 2025 CEPEJ Crystal Scales of Justice Prize is awarded to a Dutch initiative supporting people in debt

The Crystal Scales of Justice Prize, which rewards innovative judicial practices within European judicial institutions, has been awarded on 9 October 2025 in Nicosia (Cyprus) to the Dutch Council for the Judiciary for its initiative aimed at supporting people in debt.

The «Schuldenfunctionaris/Debt officer» project contributes to finding solutions for people in debt by appointing debt officers within the courts to support debtors and identify potential problems at an early stage.

Two special mentions have also been awarded to the two following projects:

- « Support Centre for Conservatorship », the Flemisch justices of peace (Belgium)

- « Hyper-automation of Order for Payment Procedures in Justice», Ministry of justice (Spain)

For this year’s edition of the European Crystal Scales of Justice Prize, 28 projects from 16 countries were submitted, focusing on efficiency and access to justice, the protection of victims and digitalisation of justice.

The Prize has been given to the Dutch Council for the Judiciary represented by Jan van Breda, Programme leader Innovation and Implementation, Femke Damsteegt, Judge at the Supreme Court and Herman van Harten, Judge at the Hague Court of Appeal, in the presence of CEPEJ President Francesco Depasquale. Members of the competition jury, composed of prominent figures in the field of justice, were also present at the ceremony to explain their decision.

The Judicial Training School and “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center (Cyprus), winners of the last edition of the Prize (2023), hosted the event.

The representatives of the awarded projects will be invited to present them at the CEPEJ plenary meeting in December 2025.

The projects awarded the Crystal Scales of Justice Prize will also serve as research subjects for Master’s students from law faculties in Council of Europe member states or those with observer status to the CEPEJ. These students are invited to participate in the fourth edition of the Junior Crystal Scales of Justice Prize, which will be launched in October 2025.

Agenda of the Crystal Scales of Justice 2025 (in English)

The Junior Edition of the Crystal Scales of Justice Prize complements the Crystal Scales of Justice Prize. After having put together a research and legal analysis file, highlighting the innovative aspects of one of the awarded projects of the CEPEJ Crystal Scales of Justice Prize and studying its possible transposition in another context, teams are invited to defend their case orally before the Jury.

 More information