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MEDEL is today represented by its board member Iria González at the CEPEJ plenary meeting - the 2020 report on evaluation of judicial systems and the posible implementation of a certification mechanism for AI tools and services are being discussed, among other topics.
The evaluation report of judicial systems, artificial intelligence and cyberjustice at the heart of the discussions of the next CEPEJ plenary meeting.
The CEPEJ will hold its 34th online plenary meeting on 8 December 2020. On this occasion, the various options that can be envisaged within the framework of the setting up of a certification mechanism for artificial intelligence tools and services on the basis of the CEPEJ Charter will be examined.
MEDEL welcomes the statement of ENCJ on the situation of the Judiciary in Turkey and reaffirms it's full commitment to defend the Rule of Law in Turkey and its solidarity with all the Turkish judges, prosecutors and all other citizens who have been unlawfully persecuted.
On 8 December 2016 the ENCJ General Assembly suspended the observer status of the High Council for Judges and Prosecutors of Turkey as it no longer complied with the ENCJ Statutes and was no longer an institution which is independent of the executive and legislature ensuring the final responsibility for the support of the judiciary in the independent delivery of justice.
Four years later, unfortunately, the situation has not improved and has in fact deteriorated considerably. The Council for Judges and Prosecutors is a Council in name only, as none of its actions or decisions demonstrate any concern for the independence of the judiciary. Without a Council to protect and guarantee the independent delivery of justice in Turkey, there is little hope for the Rule of Law in Turkey in general and for access to independent, fair and impartial courts for all who come before the courts including Turkish citizens.
MEDEL participated at the plenary meeting of the CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN PROSECUTORS (CCPE), held in 18-19 November 2020.
It the plenary, the CCPE approved Opinion No. 15 (2020): The role of prosecutors in emergency situations, in particular when facing a pandemic.
The European Commission has replied to the letter of the Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkey (of which MEDEL is a member) of 31 August 2020. You can read it below:
Thank you for your letter dated 31 August 2020 and sent to Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, Vice President Vera Jourova, Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi and HR/VP Josep Borrell Fontelles.
I have been asked to reply. I would like to inform you that, in the context of the EU enlargement policy, the European Commission monitors closely developments and reports on the progress achieved by Turkey in a number of policy areas.
MEDEL condemns the decision of the disciplinary chamber of the Polish Supreme court on lifting the immunity of judge Igor Tuleya, suspending him and reducing his salary.
Don't miss the interview of Monika Frackowiak, member of the board of MEDEL, to New Europeans' "Friday Casebook" - the situation of #RuleOfLaw in #Poland and the threats to the independence of the Judiciary in the #EU.
Find here the final text of Opinion no. 23 of the CCJE, approved at the plenary session on November 6th 2020.
It's a very important text about the role of judicial associations in promoting Rule of Law and many of MEDEL's suggestions were accepted.
MEDEL actively cooperated and contributed to the report "The Functioning of Courts in the COVID/19 pandemic", now published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created considerable challenges for the functioning of courts during states of emergency, curfews and lockdowns. Yet, courts have a vital function during and after the pandemic, in particular to ensure judicial scrutiny of emergency legislation and to provide an effective remedy against excessive emergency measures in individual cases.
