The European Commission published the 2024 EU Justice Scoreboard on 11 June 2024.

The 2024 Scoreboard includes several new figures on accessibility of justice, such as on the accessibility to justice professions for persons with disabilities; on the accessibility to justice for consumers when exercising representative actions protecting their collective interests; on the salaries of judicial and prosecutorial expert staff; and on the notaries and their powers in the succession procedures. The 2024 edition also includes, for the first time, specific new figures on the independence of justice, for example on the appointment of court presidents, on national frameworks regarding asset declarations, and on the dismissal of Prosecutors General.

The key findings of the 2024 Scoreboard are: 
- Improved perception of judicial independence:
The perception of judicial independence has improved, including among countries which experienced systemic challenges. A Eurobarometer survey conducted among the general public shows that, since 2016, the general public's perception of judicial independence has improved or remained stable in 19 Member States. Compared to last year, the public's perception of independence has improved or remained stable in 17 Member States. In two Member States, the level of perceived independence remains particularly low.

- Continued room for improvement in the digitalisation of justice systems: 
The 2024 EU Justice Scoreboard shows that Member States continue to improve the digitalisation of their justice systems. Although most Member States already use digital solutions in different contexts and to varying degrees, there is significant room for improvement.

- Varying number of arrangements for supporting the participation of persons with disabilities as professionals in the justice system: 
20 Member States have measures in place to support persons with disabilities in their access to employment in the justice system. 18 Member States have measures in place to support the employment and working conditions of persons with disabilities who are already working in the justice system, including regarding their pay and protection from dismissals.

The European Commission published the 2023 EU Justice Scoreboard on 8 June.

The 2023 edition also includes, for the first time, specific figures on the salaries of judges and prosecutors, on the appointment of Supreme Court Presidents and Prosecutors General, and on the highest instances exercising constitutional jurisdictions, among others.

The key findings of the 2023 Scoreboard are: 

- Challenges persist on perception of judicial independence: 

A Eurobarometer survey among the general public shows that, since 2016, the general public's perception of judicial independence has improved in 15 Member States. Compared to last year, the perception has improved in 12 Member States and at the same time decreased or remained stable in 12 Member States. In a few Member States, the level of perceived independence remains particularly low. Amongst companies, another Eurobarometer survey shows the perception of independence has improved in 12 Member States compared to 2016. 

- Continued room for improvement in the digitalisation of justice systems: 
Only eight Member States have procedural rules, which allow fully or mostly for the use of distance communication and for the admissibility of evidence in digital format only. In 19 Member States, this is possible only in a limited number of situations, such as for certain court users (e.g. parties), but not for all of them (court experts). 

- Varying degrees of accessibility to justice for people at risk of discrimination and older persons, as well as for victims of gender-based and domestic violence: 17 Member States provide information on the rights of persons at risk of discrimination and 22 provide easy physical access to court buildings. Additionally, nine Member States took steps to make legal aid more accessible for older people. As regards victims of gender-based and domestic violence, in 12 Member States, all mapped safeguards are in place, including online access to specific information that is relevant to this group, special protection for victims and witnesses, support during judicial proceedings by non-governmental organisation or equality bodies or specific dedicated training for judges. However, nearly a quarter of Member States do not provide online access to relevant information about gender-based violence and victims' rights.

The European Commission published the 2022 EU Justice Scoreboard on 19 May 2022.

The key findings of the 2022 Scoreboard are: 

Room for improvement in the digitalisation of justice systems: 
While the 2021 edition already took stock of how advanced judicial authorities are in the digital transformation, the 2022 Scoreboard also takes into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Member States adopted new measures to ensure the regular functioning of courts, while also guaranteeing the continued and easy access to justice for all. Yet, findings of the 2022 edition show the need for Member States to accelerate modernisation reforms in this area, as notable room for improvement remains in some Member States.

Varying degrees of accessibility to justice for persons with disabilities: 
For the first time, the 2022 EU Justice Scoreboard includes data on the arrangements in place to support persons with disabilities in accessing justice on an equal basis. Although all Member States have at least some arrangements in place (such as procedural accommodations), only half of Member States offer also specific formats, such as Braille or sign language upon request.

Judicial Independence
Challenges persist on perception of judicial independence: Since 2016, the perception of the general public had improved in 17 Member States. However, since last year, the public perception of judicial independence has decreased in 14 Member States. In a few Member States, the level of perceived independence remains particularly low.

Guarantees in place to boost investor confidence:
Regarding access to justice and its impact on investor confidence, the business environment and functioning of the single market, the 2022 Scoreboard also included data on administrative efficiency, legal safeguards in relation to administrative decisions and confidence in investment protection. Findings show that almost all Member States have measures in place for companies to receive financial compensation for losses caused by administrative decisions or inaction, and courts may suspend the enforcement of administrative decisions upon request.
 

The European Commission published the 2021 EU Justice Scoreboard on Thursday 08th July. 

This year's Scoreboard focuses on the digitalisation of justice, which kept courts functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic and more generally made justice systems more accessible and efficient. According to the 2021’s EU Justice Scoreboard, challenges as regards perception of judicial independence persist. In a majority of the Members States the public perception of judicial independence has improved over the last few years. However compared to last year, the public’s perception of independence has decreased in about two-fifths of all Member States. Interference or pressure from government and politicians was the most widely stated reason for the perceived lack of independence of courts and judges.

As with previous editions, the ENCJ and its Members collaborated with the European Commission on the Scoreboard specifically in the chapter dealing with Judicial Independence.

For a full overview of all documents and data go to the European Commission website.

The European Commissioner for Justice and Consumers Ms. Vera Jourova presented the 2017 EU Justice Scoreboard on Monday 10th April.

According to the Commission this 5th edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard confirms that effective justice systems are essential to build trust in a business and investment-friendly environment in the single market. Ms Jourova therefore encourages Member States to ensure that any justice reform respects the rule of law and judicial independence as this is key for citizens and businesses to fully enjoy their rights. An independent and well-functioning justice system is a fundamental pillar of every democracy.

As with previous editions the ENCJ and its Members collaborated with the European Commission on the Scorebaord specificially in the chapter dealing with Judicial Independence.

On 11 April 2016 the European Commission presented the 2016 EU Justice Scoreboard. As in in previous years the ENCJ collaborated with the Commission on some parts of the Scoreboard. In addition to the scoreboard two Flash Eurobarometers were published. Number 435 deals with perceived independence of national courts in the EU Member States by the general public. Number 436 deals with the perception of judicial independence by companies.

The data used in paragraph 3.3.2 of the scoreboard on structural independence were collected through an updated questionnaire drawn up by the European Commission in close association with the ENCJ. Responses from Member States without Councils for theJudiciary were obtained through cooperation with the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the EU. Other data used in this section of the scoreboard are taken from the ENCJ Guide. 

Responses to the questionnaire per country that were collected through the ENCJ

• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Denmark
• France
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy CSM / Italy CPGA  
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovenia
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Sweden
• UK-England and Wales
• UK - Northern Ireland
• UK- Scotland