The Independence of Judges in their Judicial and Social Context
Paris, 14 September 2018

Objective:
A principle common to all European countries, guaranteed both by Article 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and by Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the independence of the judiciary remains the subject of important debates and numerous reports, whether at the level of the Council of Europe and its Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), of the Member States or international and national associations of judges.

In particular, the Bureau of the CCJE presented in 2016 a report with its counterpart prosecutors on " Challenges for judicial independence and impartiality in the Member States of the Council of Europe" the relevance of which has been ever increasing.

In the framework of the traditional partnership between the French Court of Cassation and the Academy of European Law (ERA), we are honoured to announce this international symposium on judicial independence. It is the final part of the circle of jubilee activities launched by ERA to commemorate its 25th anniversary.

Aiming to place the issue in the diversity of challenges to judicial decision-making, this colloquium will gather judges, lawyers and academics from all over Europe and, more broadly, citizens and members of civil society from the European Union.

Key topics:

• Judicial independence: a critical analysis of the concept
• Judicial independence in the Member States of the Council of Europe and the European Union
• The independence of judges as the basis of the rule of law:  the cases of Poland, Hungary and Turkey
• Respect of the rule of law as a precondition for judicial cooperation in the European Union
• Control of the judiciary by the executive (or parliament) vs. self-management of the justice system
• Responsibility and tools of the lawyer to make judicial independence effective
• Access points for possible infringements of judicial independence

Who should attend?
Members of the judiciary and national and international associations of judges; Councils of the judiciary; lawyers in private practice, national and international bar associations; NGOs and international and European organisations defending Human Rights and the Rule of law.

Languages: English, French (simultaneous interpretation)

There is no participation fee but registration is necessary.

More information about the colloquium and a detailed programme can be found here:
www.era.int/?128170&en