In the run-up to the European elections, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) published a manifesto on Thursday 28 March calling for a strengthening of “fair justice” within the European Union. Representing more than one million lawyers in 46 countries, the CCBE has highlighted five key points for the future EU institutions, underlining the fundamental importance of the Rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy.
The manifesto emphasises the need – which it deems significant – to safeguard the independence of the legal profession in order to maintain the integrity of European justice systems.
It calls for a European legislative process that supports the administration of justice, the allocation of adequate resources for the judicial system, the establishment of an effective and well-resourced legal aid system, comprehensive training for legal professionals and the proper implementation of procedural safeguards in criminal matters.
While acknowledging the EU’s commitment to the creation of a European area of justice, CCBE President Pierre-Dominique Schupp called, in a press release, for specific action to be taken by political actors to achieve a fairer Europe, where the Rule of law is respected and justice is accessible to everyone.
To read the manifesto, go to: https://aeur.eu/f/bku (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)