On 21-22 November the European Commission organised the Assises de la Justice in Brussels. The aim of the conference was to discuss with representatives of the Member States, EU officials and practitioners the future of the EU Justice Policies. The President of the ENCJ, Paul Gilligan, took part in a panel that discussed effective justice systems and the Justice Scoreboard. His address focused on the work ENCJ has done in the field of Judicial Reform and the importance for the judiciary and judicial councils to be fully involved in the design and implemantation of reform. He also reiterated that an independent and efficient judiciary is of great economic value as it provides for a sound investment climate, necessary for the recovery of an economy.

There was a good representation from the ENCJ members as well. Frits Bakker, Netherlands Council for the Judiciary, and Geoffrey Vos, Judges'Council of England and Wales, both were given the floor in the sessions that dealt with the Independence and the future Rule of Law mechanism.