Strasbourg, 27 November 2014

CEPEJ-GT-EVAL(2014)7

EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF JUSTICE

(CEPEJ)

WORKING GROUP ON THE EVALUATION OF JUDICIAL SYSTEMS

(CEPEJ-GT-EVAL)

26th meeting

20-21 November 2014

MEETING REPORT

Document prepared by the Secretariat
Directorate General I – Human Rights and Rule of Law

INTRODUCTION

1.     The working group on the evaluation of judicial systems (CEPEJ-GT-EVAL) of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) held its 26th meeting on 20 and 21 May 2014, in Strasbourg under the presidency of Jean-Paul Jean (France).

2.     The agenda and the list of participants appear respectively in Appendices I and II to this report.

I.          INFORMATION BY THE SECRETARIAT AND MEMBERS OF THE GT-EVAL

 

3.     The President of the Working Group welcomed Mr Philippe JACQUEMIN, Vice-President of the European Institute of expertise and the expert (EEEI) and Mr Emmanuel CHARRIER (National Council of Companies and judicial experts).

4.     The Secretariat of the CEPEJ informs the Working Group of the arrival of the statistician Lidjia NAUMOVSKA (« the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ») at the CEPEJ on 1 December 2014.

II.         EVALUATION OF JUDICIAL SYSTEMS

5.     The President commends the work done for the release of the Report « European Judicial Systems – 2014 Edition (2012 data) » and the success of the press conference organised early October in Paris. He thanks the experts for their participation to the drafting of the chapters for the Report as well as the Secretariat and expresses his will to include even more the members of the Working Group during the forthcoming exercise.

6.     According to him, the numerous statistical data collected during various evaluation exercises could allow the establishment of an « Observatory of Justice in the member states of the Council of Europe» that could be continually updated. A newsletter could possibly announce the creation of such an observatory. 

a.     Assessment of the impact of the report « European judicial Systems – 2014 Edition »

7.     The Secretariat presents the press review and stresses the fact that the media impact is easier to measure than the direct impact of the report as a public policy tool. This impact could be evaluated through a more systematic feedback from member states of the CEPEJ, feedback could also allow the Secretariat to make improvements for the next edition of the Scheme and the Report.

                                                                                         

8.     The Secretariat of the CEPEJ is requested by the President to compile the main themes highlighted by the media in order to eventually deepen insight on those themes in the forthcoming report.

b.    Preparation of the 2014-2016 cycle

9.     The Working Group proceeds to an exchange of views regarding the improvements to be made in the report during the forthcoming exercise:

·         to enrich the content of chapter 9 (Efficiency of courts) as the conducted analyses tend to be reduced to the categories of cases. It should be set general reflexions by group of countries or to develop simple tools by using concrete indicators based on good practices observed in the States ;

·         to redefine the Report based on current trends and issues by modifying the Scheme which is considered to be out-dated with regards to new information technologies

·         to make an in-depth analysis combined of judicial professions and the length of proceedings ;

·         to improve the analysis of the chapter devoted to expertise.

10.  The CEPEJ-GT-EVAL examined every question in the 2012-2014 Scheme in order to improve it either because the response rate wasn’t satisfactory or because the wording was misunderstood. Certain members were therefore requested to propose a new wording inter alia:

·         regarding questions 61 to 65 on the use of technologies in courts (the electronic signature, electronic mailing as evidence, electronic notification of acts by bailiffs, the electronic communication of pieces between judges and lawyers, databases containing legal data, videoconferences, parties obtaining information on the internet before the hearing, online dispute resolution system, anonymisation of decisions, the possession of an internal management system or the accession of a management system by a public market, etc.);

·         regarding questions 70 to 74 on the performance of courts ;

·         regarding question 194 on the functions performed by notaries (whether or not they benefit from having a monopoly).

11.  The modified questions will have to be sent to the Secretariat by 10 January 2015, after which they will be put on the agenda of the first meeting of the 2015 CEPEJ-GT-EVAL. The Scheme for the 2014-2016 exercise will have to be approved in its entirety at this same meeting.

12.  Mr Christophe KOLLER and Mr Daniel FINK (Switzerland) presents the software BADAC, a visualisation tool and a centralised database created by the Swiss authorities with the objective of following the public policy reforms. This software is also used by the Swiss authorities to reply to the CEPEJ questionnaire.

13.  The Secretariat notes that such a software could represent a very effective tool for the CEPEJ with regards to the professing of data and it would allow the CEPEJ to put greater focus on data analysis. Also, this system would allow the CEPEJ to maintain control over the quality check of data.

14.  The Secretariat and the Working Group agreed to address once again the question with regards to a CEPEJ data bank during the next CEPEJ-GT-EVAL meeting.

III.        STUDY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON THE FUNCTIONING OF JUDICIAL SYSTEMS IN THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

15.  The Secretariat informs the CEPEJ-GT-EVAL of the state of progress of the « Study on the functioning of judicial systems in the member states of the European Union», which shall be delivered to the European Commission for the Justice Scoreboard 2015.

16.  This study is realised on the basis of an excerpt (37 questions) from the CEPEJ questionnaire and relied upon 2013 data. The 2010 and 2012 data were also used for comparisons. The Secretariat highlights the very good feedback of the national correspondents within the framework of the quality check of data, which allowed a real improvement of the quality of these data.

17.  Four countries did not participate in the study: Spain, Greece, Poland and the United Kingdom. A first part of this study, involving 97 tables and the supporting comments, will be delivered to the European Commission on 1 December 2014 and is already submitted to the national correspondents for verification of data. A second part, comprised of 24 sheets per country, will have to be submitted to the European Commission before 31 December 2014.

18.  The representative of the European Commission, Elsa GARCIA-MALTRAS, thanks the Secretariat for the already provided quality work within the context of this study. She estimated that the work done so far is satisfactory notably with regards to the number of answers within the stated period of times.

IV.           COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES LINKED WITH THE EVALUATION REPORT

a.     Possible study on the use of ICT in courts

19.  The President as well as Messrs Marco VELICOGNA (ITALY), Frans Van der DOELEN (NETHERLANDS) and Yannick MENECEUR (Secretariat of the CEPEJ) made presentations on the new technologies[1]. 

20.  The President assigned GT-EVAL to consider the possibility of drawing a report on the impact of human ressources regarding the development of new technologies.

b.    Exchange with Emmanuel Charrier, National Council of Judicial Experts

21.  Mr Emmanuel CHARRIER stressed the richness of the collected data by the CEPEJ and the willingness for objectivity and independence. He noted the different partnerships of the NCCJE which aim at sharing expertise practices between the different types of European judicial systems and offered his co-operation for the improvement of the chapter regarding expertise for the next exercise.

V.          CEPEJ CO-OPERATION PROGRAMMES

22.  The Secretariat provides information about the co-operation programs conducted with Morocco and Tunisia. Those programmes should finish at the end of the year but will probably be continued for at least 2 years.

23.  In Morocco, the proposed satisfaction surveys have ultimately been refused for the moment as they occur in the midst of judicial reform. Even though the level of computerisation is higher in Morocco than in Tunisia, many action fields are provided to the CEPEJ experts for these two countries : training of judges and clerks, case management within courts, enforcement of court rulings, etc.

24.  Mr Georg STAWA mentioned the state of progress of the partnership with the Eastern European countries. He stressed the fact that statistical and management methods have been provided to the States and that they have already led certain reforms based on the CEPEJ tools.

VI.           Divers

25.  The next meeting of GT-EVAL is expected to take place on 19 and 20 February 2015 in Paris.

Appendix I

AGENDA

1.             Adoption of the agenda / Adoption de l’ordre du jour

2.             Information by the Secretariat and the CEPEJ-GT-EVAL members / Information du     Secrétariat et des membres du CEPEJ-GT-EVAL

3.             Evaluation of judicial systems / Evaluation des systèmes judiciaires

i.              Assessment of the impact of the CEPEJ report “European judicial system – Edition 2014” / Evaluation de l’impact du rapport “Systèmes judiciaires européens – Edition 2014”

ii.      Continuation of the process and launching of the 2014 - 2016 cycle / Poursuite du processus et lancement du cycle 2014 – 2016

a.      Revision of the Evaluation Scheme, in particular the ICT part (see also item 5 of this agenda) / Révision de la Grille d’évaluation, en particulier la partie sur les TIC (voir également point 5 du présent agenda)

b.      Setting-up of a possible data-bank/ Mise en place d’une éventuelle banque de données

4.             Study for the European Commission on the functioning of judicial systems in the      member States of the European Union (Scoreboard of justice) / Etude pour la           Commission européenne sur le fonctionnement des systèmes judiciaires dans            les Etats membres de l’Union européenne (Tableau de bord de la justice)

5.             Complementary studies linked with the Evaluation report / Etudes complémentaires liées au Rapport d’évaluation

a)     Possible study on the use of ICT in courts / Etude éventuelle sur l’utilisation des TIC dans les juridictions

i.              Presentation by Frans van der Doelen: “Innovating Digital Justice’’ / Présentation par Frans van der Doelen : « La justice digitale innovante »

ii.             Présentation by Jean-Paul Jean: “E-justice and the use of IT in Supreme Court” / Présentation par Jean-Paul Jean : «  L’e-justice et l’utilisation des TIC au sein des Cours Suprêmes »

iii.            Présentation by Marco Velicogna : "e-Justice developments in Europe from CEPEJ data and in-depth case studies" / Présentation par Marco Velicogna: “Les développements de l’e-justice en Europe à partir des données de la CEPEJ et d’études de cas approfondies »

b)     Exchange with Emmanuel Charrier, National Council of Judicial Experts / Echange avec Emmanuel Charrier, Conseil National des Compagnies d’Experts de Justice

6.             Implementation of the pilot peer evaluation co-operation process / Mise en œuvre      du processus de coopération à travers une évaluation par les pairs

7.             CEPEJ co-operation programmes / Programmes de coopération de la CEPEJ

i.              Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan / Maroc, Tunisie et  Jordanie

ii.             Croatia / Croatie

iii.            Countries of the Eastern Partnership / Pays du Partenariat pour l’Europe orientale

8.             Any other business / Questions diverses

Relation with the OECD (for GT-EVAL members only) / Relation avec l’OCDE (pour les membres du GT-EVAL uniquement)

Appendix II

List of Participants / Liste des participants

Experts

Ramin GURBANOV, Judge, Baku City Yasamal District court, Baku, AZERBAIJAN, Tel: +994 12510 0444 / +994 50214 0444, e-mail: [email protected]

Adis HODZIC, Senior Advisor for Statistics, Secretariat High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kraljice Jelene 88, 7100 Sarajevo, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, e-mail: [email protected]

Jean-Paul JEAN, Avocat général près la Cour de  Cassation, Professeur associé à l’Université de Poitiers, Palais de Justice, 34 quai des Orfèvres, 75001 Paris, FRANCE, Tél: 01 44 77 66 65, Fax: 01 44 77 66 70, e‑mail: [email protected] 

Georg STAWA, Head of Department Pr 8, Projects, Strategy and Innovation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Museumstrasse 7, 1016 Wien, AUSTRIA, Tel: +43 1 52 152 22 80 / +43 676 89 89 122 80, e-mail: [email protected] (Vice-Chair of the CEPEJ / Vice-Président de la CEPEJ)

John STACEY, Government Advisor for the Efficiency and Quality of Justice, 57 Lynford Way, Rushden, Northants, NN109LZ, UNITED KINGDOM, e-mail:  [email protected]

(Chair of the CEPEJ / Président de la CEPEJ)

Frans Van der DOELEN, Program Manager of the Department of the Justice System, Ministry of Justice, Postbox 20301, 2500 Hague, THE NETHERLANDS, Tel: +31 70 370 73 35, e-mail: [email protected]

Stéphanie MOUROU VIKSTRÖM, Premier juge au Tribunal de première instance, Palais de Justice, 5 rue Colonel Bellando de Castro, 98 000 MONACO, Tél: +377 98 98 47 68, Fax: + 377 98 98 89 72, e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Scientific experts / experts scientifiques

Munira Dossaji,  Principal Operational Research Analyst , Strategy and Innovation Team, Human Rights and International Directorate, Floor 6, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ, UNITED KINGDOM, Tel: +44 20 33 34 36 04, Fax: +44 77 66 78 57 87, e-mail:  [email protected]

Beata Z. GRUSZCZYŃSKA, Institute of Justice, Professor at University of Warsaw and Institute of Justice, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 25, 00-950 Warsaw, POLAND, Tel: +48 22 826-03-63 (secretary), Fax: +48 22 826 24 01, e-mail:  [email protected] or [email protected]

Simone KREβ, Richterin am Oberlandesgericht, Oberlandesgericht Köln, Reichenspergerplatz 1, 50670 Köln, GERMANY, Tel: +49 0221 7711 326, e-mail: [email protected]

Other experts / Autres experts

Christophe KOLLER, Chef de projet IDHEAP-BADAC, Portail des cantons et des villes suisses, Université de Lausanne, Bâtiment IDHEAP, CH-1015 Lausanne, SUISSE, e-mail: [email protected]

Daniel FINK, co-responsable du projet IDHEAP-BADAC au niveau suisse, Portail des cantons et des villes suisses, Université de Lausanne, Bâtiment IDHEAP, CH-1015 Lausanne, SUISSE

Marco FABRI, The Research Institute on Judicial Systems (IRSIG-CNR), Via Zamboni, 26, Bologna, ITALIA, e-mail: [email protected]

Marco VELICOGNA, The Research Institute on Judicial Systems (IRSIG-CNR), Via Zamboni, 26, Bologna, ITALIA, e-mail: [email protected]

Laetitia BRUNIN, Adjointe au sous-directeur de la statistique et des études du Secrétariat général du Ministère de la Justice, 2-14 rue des Cévennes, 75015 Paris, FRANCE, e-mail: [email protected]

Emmanuel CHARRIER, Administrateur du Conseil national des Compagnies d’experts de justice, 10 rue du Débarcadère, 75852 Paris Cedex, FRANCE 17, e-mail: [email protected]

Philippe JACQUEMIN,Vice-Président de l‘Institut européen de l’expertise et de l’expert (EEEI), 17 rue Louise Michel, 92300 Levallois Perret, FRANCE, e-mail: [email protected] ou [email protected]

Observers / Observateurs

European Union of Rechtspfleger / Union européenne des greffiers de justice et Rechtspfleger

Vivien WHYTE, Greffier au Tribunal de Grande Instance de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, FRANCE, Tél: +33 (0)3 88 75 27 56,  e-mail: [email protected], Apologised / Excusé

Jean-Jacques KUSTER, Président de l'Union européenne des Greffiers de justice (E.U.R.), 24, rue de la Canardière, 67100 Strasbourg, FRANCE, Tél: + 33 (0)6 83 61 78 05, e-mail: jean‑[email protected]

EUROPEAN COMMISSION / COMMISSSION EUROPEENNE

Elsa GARCIA-MALTRAS, European Commission, Directorate-General Justice, Rue de la Loi MO59 3/78, 1049 Brussels, BELGIUM, e-mail: [email protected]

EUROPEAN UNION / UNION EUROPEENNE

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION / CONSEIL DE L’UNION EUROPEENNE

Pawel NALEWAJKO, Fundamental Rights and Criminal Justice, DG D - Justice and Home Affairs, General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, Office 20 MN 17 (Justus Lipsius), 175, Rue de la Loi 1048 Brussels, BELGIUM, Tel: +32 2 281 1231,  e-mail: [email protected], Apologised / Excusé

Other participants / Autres participants

Bartolomeo CAPPELLINA, Doctorant, Centre Emily Durkheim, Sciences Po Bordeaux, 11 allée Ausone, 33607, Pessac Cedex, FRANCE, e-mail: [email protected]

Secretariat

DGI – Human  Rights and Rule of Law

Division for the Independence and Efficiency of Justice/

DGI -  Droits de l’Homme et Etat de droit

Division pour l’indépendance et l’efficacité de la justice

Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 37 43

E-mail: [email protected]

Hanne JUNCHER, Head of Justice and Legal Co-operation Department / Chef du Service de la coopération judiciaire et juridique, Tél: +33 3 88 44 24 37, e-mail: [email protected]

Stéphane LEYENBERGER, Secretary of the CEPEJ / Secrétaire de la CEPEJ, Tel : +33 3 88 41 34 12, e-mail: [email protected]

Muriel DECOT, Co-Secretary of the CEPEJ / Co-secrétaire de la CEPEJ, Tél: +33 3 90 21 44 55, e-mail: [email protected]

Christel SCHURRER, Administrator/Administrateur, Tél : +33 3 90 21 56 97, e-mail:[email protected]

Yannick MENECEUR, Special Advisor to the Secretariat of the CEPEJ, Special Counselor to the Secretariat of the CEPEJ / Conseiller spécial auprès du Secrétariat de la CEPEJ,Tél: 33 3 90 21 53 59, e-mail: [email protected]

Jean-Pierre GEILLER, Administration et finances, Tél: +33 3 88 41 22 27, e-mail: [email protected]

Annette SATTEL, Administration et réseaux, Tél: +33 3 88 41 39 04, e-mail: [email protected]

Anna KHROMOVA, Assistant/Assistante, Tel: +33 3 88 41 21 68, Fax: +33 3 88 41 37 43, e-mail: [email protected]

Guergana LAZAROVA-DECHAUX, Secrétariat de la CEPEJ, [email protected]

Felicie DIARD-DETOEUF, Secrétariat de la CEPEJ, [email protected]

Laetitia NSIONA, Stagiaire

INTERPRETERS / INTERPRETES

Grégoire DEVICTOR

Sylvie BOUX

Isabelle MARCHINI