President of the Supreme Court Petr Angyalossy took part in the meeting of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union in Athens

The meeting focused on two topics, which were elaborated based on questionnaires submitted by all Supreme Courts prior to the Colloquium.

The first panel focused on the impact of EU law on national legal orders. A detailed report by the First President of the Court of Cassation of France, Christopher Soulard, highlighted the need to contribute to the creation of a single area of justice. While some Supreme Courts refer specifically to and cite the decisions of the Court of Justice in their decisions, other Supreme Courts tend to refer to this case-law indirectly by referring to decisions of their own Constitutional Court or to general legal principles that form the sources of law in both the EU and national legal orders.

"As the guardian of the Treaties, the Court of Justice of the European Union is called upon to interpret EU law authoritatively. Its powers would be very limited if national courts did not ensure the proper effectiveness of EU law through their own decision-making. The Czech courts have been actively engaged in dialogue with the CJEU, having submitted more than one hundred and twenty preliminary questions to the CJEU over twenty years, thereby also contributing to its development. National courts are therefore key architects of European integration," the President of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic mentioned in his statement.

The second panel dealt with the topic of the attractiveness of the judicial profession, and work in the judiciary for court employees. On this, President Angyalossy observed: "One of the main reasons why it is necessary to discuss the social relevance and importance of working in the judiciary in the European area is the well-founded concern of many of the representatives of the Supreme Courts that the attractiveness of the judicial profession and of working in the judiciary in general has been fading in recent years. This is a very concerning trend that disturbs the delicate balance of power in the state, which is essential for the healthy functioning of democracy. We cannot continue to ignore the danger of a weakening judiciary."

The Presidents of the Supreme Courts discussed what can be done at national levels to ensure that the best lawyers take charge of the judicial profession and that the courts are equipped with quality staff. The detailed submission report clearly showed the significantly unflattering status, prestige, and financial remuneration of Czech court staff, compared to countries that fall far short of the efficiency and effectiveness of our judiciary. In addition to the inadequate remuneration, the Presidents of the Courts addressed other methods that proved successful in various countries and had a positive impact on the working conditions of judicial staff. These include flexible working hours, the possibility of working from home to ensure a proper work-life balance, and the possibility of further education.

In the discussion on how to make the profession of judge more attractive, the Presidents agreed that in addition to financial remuneration to ensure the independence of judges, other measures should be taken, such as preventive programmes against burnout, setting appropriate and predictable career rules for judges in order to increase their motivation for career advancement, or allowing foreign training programmes for judges.

In addition to the Presidents of the Supreme Courts of the EU Member States and guests from European courts, the Presidents and representatives of the Supreme Courts of Serbia, Ukraine, Albania, and Montenegro participated as observers.

Mgr. Aleš Pavel
Director of the Office of the President