On 12 June 2024, at the General Assembly Members-only session, the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary endorsed the Declaration of the European Association of Judges (EAJ) on the independence of judges in Slovenia. 

Click here to read the ENCJ Statement.

The ENCJ Newsletter for the 1st quarter of 2024 is now available!

Please take a look on the latest developments regarding the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Italy. 

- ENCJ Office tam 

The Executive Board of the ENCJ has been closely following the situation, concerning the renewal of the Council for the Judiciary of Spain (CGPJ Spain) and the implications this failure to renew has on the judiciary. 

Taking into consideration of the ongoing efforts to resolve this situation, especially the structural dialogue on the matter initiated by the European Commission on 26 January 2024, the ENCJ Executive Board and the European Association of Judges have adopted a joint statement. 

The ENCJ Newsletter for the 4th quarter of 2023 is now available!

Please take a look on the latest developments regarding the judiciary in Italy, Latvia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. You can also find links to the relevant opinions of the Venice Commission. 

- ENCJ Office tam 

On 3 January 2024 the President of the OBT (Council for the Judiciary of Hungary) has informed the President of the ENCJ of the current situation of judicial salaries in Hungary.

On 28 December 2023 President of Sodni svet (Council for the Judiciary of Slovenia) has informed the ENCJ that despite the issue being raised in the Rule of Law report of 2023 and the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia of 30 June 2023, which, on request from the Judicial Council, declared the judges’ salaries as unconstitutional and contrary to the principle of judicial independence due to the disrespect of the constitutional requirement of their stability, the situation remains unchanged. 

On the 21st December, 2023 Council for the Judiciary of Spain (hereinafter - CGPJ Spain) in its plenary session adopted a resolution on the creation of the Commissions of Inquiry in the Congress of Deputies and the implications this may have on judicial independence.

Recent developments in Spain have raised concerns of the General Council of the Judiciary of Spain with regard to fundamental principles of the rule of law, separation of powers, and judicial independence. 

The issue lies with the proposed amnesty legislation. For more information please see the statement and the resolution adopted by the Council, which provide insights into the proposed legislation and its potential implications. 

The European Commission published its fourth annual Rule of Law report (2023). The Report sets out key elements of the rule of law developments in the European Union and presents Member State-specific assessments in 27 country chapters. The report covers four pillars: national justice systems, anti-corruption frameworks, media pluralism and other institutional checks-and balances. There is a general report, country chapters with a more detailed analysis for each Member State and as of this year the report also includes specific recommendations to all Member States. 

At the General Assembly in Ljubljana 7-9 June 2023, the ENCJ adopted the 2022-2023 Report on the Independence, Accountability and Quality of the Judiciary.

The Report deals with several issues: 

In relation to Independence and Accountability, the main findings are that :