In the framework of the Project “Support to increased efficiency of courts, improved training of judges and judicial self-governance in Azerbaijan”, implemented in cooperation with the CEPEJ, since July 2015, there have been a number of significant steps taken, activities implemented, workshops organised, trainings on court management held for judges and court staff, exchanges of experience provided, mainly carried out in Baku and Strasbourg.  As a result of all these activities, the CEPEJ tools identified as priorities, including satisfaction surveys, tools on judicial statistics and judicial time management, have been implemented on a high level in the pilot courts of Azerbaijan, i.e. in the Sumgayit Court of Appeal, Sheki Court of Appeal, Sumgayit Administrative-Economic Court, Baku city Yasamal District Court and Oghuz District Court.  

As was also noted by the CEPEJ experts, the pilot courts of Azerbaijan have achieved high performance indicators in the framework of the cooperation with the CEPEJ. However, it is important to mention that the work done does not end here. Currently the pilot courts of Azerbaijan continue to benefit from the cooperation with the CEPEJ. For example, the Sumgayit Court of Appeal regularly analyses its performance and takes necessary measures to improve the quality of its work. In this view, the efficiency of implementation of indicators recommended by the CEPEJ experts is undeniable.

To conclude, I consider that the activities implemented in cooperation with the CEPEJ are worthwhile and will serve to further increasing of the public trust in the court system. Implementation of the CEPEJ tools shall be promoted at the level of all national courts. 

Saadat Baktashi,

Chair of the Sumgayit Court of Appeal

The Republic of Azerbaijan carries out wide judicial-legal reforms in order to improve the efficiency of justice and attaches great importance to cooperation with leading international organisations. The Project “Support to increased efficiency of courts, improved training of judges and judicial self-governance in Azerbaijan” successfully implemented in the framework of the Partnership for Good Governance between the Council of Europe and the European Union, is a good example of such fruitful cooperation.

One of the positive aspects of this project was the practical meaning it carried. During two years there were organised visits to the pilot courts, useful activities implemented in some European countries, as well as in Strasbourg and Baku.

In the course of the project, satisfaction surveys have been prepared and organised in the pilot courts, trainings on court management held for judges and court staff, best practices learnt in regard to implementation of the CEPEJ guidelines on judicial statistics and judicial time management. 

The efficient cooperation during the above-mentioned activities, valuable recommendations and practical support from the CEPEJ representatives and experts, as well as efforts by the local partners representing the justice and judicial system of Azerbaijan, have overall ensured the successful  implementation of the project.

We believe that the experience, knowledge and capacities gained as a result of the implemented cooperation will be applied in the practice of other courts too, and will serve the development of the judicial system of our country. 

Khagani Taghiyev,

Member of the Judicial-Legal Council,

Chair of the Salyan District Court

I appreciate as very important the fact that the Sheki Court of Appeal was involved, along with other 4 pilot courts (Sumgayit Court of Appeal, Baku city Yasamal District Court, Oghuz District Court and Sumgayit Administrative-Economic Court), in implementation of the Council of Europe/European Union Partnership for Good Governance 2015-2017 Project “Support to increased efficiency of courts, improved training of judges and judicial self-governance in Azerbaijan”. Implementation of wide judicial-legal reforms in Azerbaijan enhanced the need for establishment of modern court infrastructure, as well as application of adequate methodology in courts. In this view, the fruitful cooperation with the CEPEJ during these two years has been very relevant, and the trainings on implementation of the CEPEJ tools on efficiency of justice and CEPEJ methodology have been practically very useful. In the course of the project, as a result of gained theoretical knowledge and practical skills, satisfaction surveys have been implemented in the pilot courts, statistical analyses drafted, judges’ performance evaluated based on the CEPEJ indicators, action plans prepared and new targets set in order to improve the efficiency of the court performance, in accordance to the CEPEJ tools and guidelines. 

Sheki Court of Appeal undertakes a lot of efforts in establishing credible relations with public and respectively increasing communication capabilities. Along with other measures undertaken in this regard, I would like to particularly emphasize the satisfaction surveys implemented in accordance to the CEPEJ recommendations. Implementation of these surveys allowed to identify the level of satisfaction with the court services among different target groups and define the areas that need to be improved by the court. At the same time, based on the CEPEJ best practices, each of the pilot courts gained an opportunity to identify for itself the relevant form and method of communication with public.

The Sheki Court of Appeal considers sustainable implementation of the CEPEJ tools and guidelines, aimed at increasing efficiency and evaluating its performance, as one of the priorities and believes in the positive impact of the overall experience on the court services.

Using this opportunity, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the European Union, Council of Europe and the CEPEJ experts’ team for implementation of this project.

Mubariz Akbarov,

Chair of the Sheki Court of Appeal