‘Following on-site the evaluation process of Italian prosecutors’

During December 17-20, 2024, the EU4Justice Project organized and coordinated a study visit to the Italian High Judicial Council (CSM) and the Florence Court of Appeal. Led by the HPC Chairwoman and accompanied by HPC members (members of the HPC Evaluation Standing Committee) and legal advisors, the delegation aimed to understand how Italian magistrates are evaluated in Italy.

The visit, designed by the Project and the Italian authorities, provided HPC members and legal advisors with an opportunity to witness the entire process of periodic evaluation of Italian prosecutors. This experience offered valuable insights to the HPC, particularly in light of recent amendments to the HPC Evaluation Regulation and the need to adapt evaluation documentation to align with the Italian concept.

The visit focused on the standards of ethical and professional performance evaluation of magistrates, particularly considering the new Italian legislation that defines clear criteria, indicators, and simple levels of evaluation. The delegation was guided through the process, starting at the local Judicial Councils, by the Court of Appeal, as the branch of the CSM. They also witnessed the self-evaluation of magistrates, their evaluation by the chair of courts and prosecution offices, and the subsequent evaluation of the local judicial council. Finally, the results are forwarded to the SCM for the final evaluation based on the established criteria and indicators.

The HPC Chairwoman emphasized that this visit will significantly enhance and support the ongoing efforts to the prosecutors’ evaluation process in Albania. The HPC’s commitment to providing high-quality evaluations in a timely manner has resulted in the completion of six evaluations since summer, following the simplification of the process through the approved amendments to the evaluation regulation. She believes that the study visit, which provided a clear understanding of Italian practice, and the revision of Italian documents and templates to be provided and adapted, will further contribute to this process.

EU4JUSTICE is an EU Contribution Agreement Project implemented by AICS, Expertise France, and FIIAPP.  The project’s overall objective is the improvement of the capacity of the independent justice institutions in Albania