ENCJ Project on Standards and Evaluation 2010-2011

In 2010-2011 the ENCJ worked on the theme of Standards and Evaluation. The project falls within the scope of the Strategic Objective that aims to promote best practices in the Justice Sector for Quality Management. The report puts forward proposals for minimum standards in the areas of recruitment, selection and appointment of judges; judicial training and judicial ethics. The questionniare report is the collection of answers received from the ENCJ Members to the questionniare that was drafted by the project team.

The idea for the project comes from the Mutual Confidence report 2009-2010. The principle of Mutual Recognition has as a pre-condition that there be mutual confidence among judges. Mutual Confidence calls for better cooperation and more (minimum) standards, more common legislation on basic issues and a common understanding of conditions. 

Where as politicians have shown to be reluctant to develop minimum standards, the Judiciaries of Europe should understand and accept their role and responsibility in developing minimum standards. A set of representative standards for the Justice Sector should be developed. The Judiciaries of Europe should also be prepared to take the next step for evaluating compliance with these minimum standards. These common minimum standards and their evaluation will contribute to mutual confidence. Councils for the Judiciary through the ENCJ should take the lead (when appropriate in cooperation with others).