European Judicial Training Network (EJTN)

Applications for the EJTN Exchange Programme 2026 open

Are you ready to broaden your professional horizons, explore different judicial systems and gain first-hand experience within leading European courts, agencies, and institutions?

On 1 September, the European Judicial Training Network will launch its first call for applications for the 2026 Exchange Programme for Judicial Authorities.

This flagship initiative offers a wide range of high-quality training and exchange opportunities for judges, prosecutors, court/prosecution staff and trainers from across the European Union.

New training activities launched for autumn

The European Judicial Training Network is happy to announce four additional training activities for autumn 2025. 

The seminars address key developments in law, technology and judicial cooperation, offering participants the opportunity to deepen their expertise and exchange best practices with peers from across Europe. 

A new format for project-based exchanges: simpler, more targeted, greater impact

The European Judicial Training Network has redesigned its Project-Based Exchanges into a single, unified format. This new approach merges former bilateral exchanges, regional exchanges, and judiciary learning grants into one coherent and streamlined activity.

The aim is to enhance flexibility, improve the quality of projects, and maximise their multiplier effect. Participants may apply individually or in groups (2 to 5 participants) for exchanges lasting 2 to 5 working days.

THEMIS 2025 Semi-Finals: future magistrates debate the law and shape Europe’s judicial future

Throughout spring and summer 2025, the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) held the four Semi-Finals of the prestigious THEMIS Competition. A total of 39 teams of judicial trainees – described by one jury member as “the bright future of the European judiciary” – came together to present their views, challenge each other’s arguments, and explore key topics in European law. 

Strengthening EU Competition Law Enforcement: EJTN concludes landmark project with DG COMP

We are proud to announce the successful conclusion of its 2024–2025 project, implemented in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP) under the Competition strand of the Single Market Programme.

This initiative aimed to equip members of the judiciary, prosecution services and law enforcement with the skills and knowledge needed to recognise and report potential breaches of EU competition law uncovered in the context of their own financial and economic crime investigations.

The EJTN-ERA project on ‘Court staff and bailiffs’ training in European civil and criminal law’ successfully concluded

EJTN is pleased to announce the successful completion of the project “Court staff and bailiffs’ training in European civil and criminal law” implemented together with the Academy of European Law (ERA) and co-funded by the European Union.

In the framework of the project, EJTN hosted four seminars with a total of 97 participants trained on European cross-border civil and criminal procedures as well as legal English language classes. Participants also discovered more about the EJTN training offer dedicated to court staff.

EJTN institutions database to launch later this year

To mark the 25th anniversary of the European Judicial Training Network, a Comparative Study on Judicial Training Institution is currently under preparation. This upcoming study, to be launched in October this year, will be made available to EJTN Members, Associate Members and Observers. 

2025 EJTN General Assembly: over hundred delegates gather to shape the future of European justice

On 11-12 June, the European Judicial Training Network organised its 2025 General Assembly under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and with support from the Polish EJTN member National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution. The event took place in Gdańsk, Poland. 

Over 100 delegates, including directors of EJTN Members, Associate Members and Observers, as well as representatives of key partners and esteemed guests, attended this year’s General Assembly. 

EJTN online conversation classes in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish to launch in September

The next series of online conversation classes by the European Judicial Training Network will take place between 15 September 2025 and 21 November 2025. The classes, held via Zoom, are open to EU judges and prosecutors who are from member institutions of the EJTN Network and who already speak a second language but would like to improve their conversation skills.

The fourth Judges@Europe focuses on being a judge in the digital era

Gathering together judges from across the European Union, the fourth edition of the Judges@Europe Forum took place on 21-23 May. Organised under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and hosted by the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, this unique forum provided participants a confidential space to share their insights and challenges. 

2024 EJTN Annual Report now available – first time in hybrid format

In 2024, EJTN reaffirmed its commitment to judicial training excellence by organising 971 activities, delivering 36,726.5 training days and training a total of 10,921 European judges, prosecutors, court staff and trainers – a 17% increase in participants from the previous year. These remarkable achievements were made possible by the EJTN Members, who develop impactful training initiatives and ensure their wide and effective dissemination.

Celebrating 25 years of fundamental rights in the EU

This year, the European Union marks 25 years since the adoption of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which continues to be a key document embodying the EU’s commitment to dignity, freedoms, equality, solidarity, citizens’ rights and justice. 

Get ready for the 2025 edition of the THEMIS Competition

This year’s THEMIS Competition is set to launch soon, bringing together 39 teams from across Europe. Judicial trainees from 12 EU member states, three Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia), and Moldova will compete for top honours.

EJTN Digital Ambassadors: a new initiative to support the digital transformation of justice

The new EJTN Digital Ambassadors Programme supports the digital transformation of justice by equipping European justice practitioners with the tools and knowledge they need to support the digitalisation processes at national level. Through this initiative, the European Judicial Training Network will be able to have direct impact on how national justice systems adapt to the digitalisation of justice, providing them with the relevant training and resources.

Applications for the 2025 EJTN study visits are now open

EJTN is pleased to open the second call for applications for study visits taking place in the second semester of 2025. EJTN study visits are open to judges, prosecutors, court and prosecution staff as well as judicial trainers from EU Member States.  

Eight study visits will be organised with six partner institutions, and the application deadline is set for 16 May. 

Building a common digital culture is a step towards the digital transformation of justice

Over 170 judges, prosecutors and court staff from across Europe joined a new groundbreaking hybrid event, titled ‘Building a Common Digital Culture’, held in Lisbon on 1-2 April. Hosted by the Directorate-General of Justice Administration (DGAJ), EJTN’s Associate Member, as well as online, the event was a great example of blended learning, which combines face-to-face sessions, virtual components and asynchronous learning. This type of learning approach has several benefits, including flexibility and scalability, aligning with EJTN’s commitment to delivering inclusive and forward-thinking training activities to Europe’s justice practitioners while addressing national and EU-wide challenges.  

The fourth Judges@Europe Forum to take place in May

Following on from the success of past years’ editions, the 2025 Judges@Europe Forum will take place on 21-23 May at the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights. 

The theme of this fourth edition focuses on being a judge in the digital era, covering topics such as judicial independence, the freedom of expression, alternative dispute resolution, digital evidence and disinformation. 

Specialised training programme for financial and economic crime investigators launched

Targeted at justice practitioners and law enforcement professionals working on financial and economic crime investigations, the training activities will improve the detection and prosecution of anti-competitive infringements across the EU. The goal is to enhance the role of professionals who, while not directly responsible for competition enforcement, can support competition enforcement authorities by sharing relevant information and evidence with the European Commission and the National Competition Authorities of the Member States.

Closing the gender equality gap in justice: judicial training as a key to progress

On 10 March, the International Day of Women Judges, the European Judicial Training Network hosted together with its members and partners an insightful online conference titled ‘Gender Equality in Justice: How to Achieve it Through Training’. High-level speakers from European and international organisation as well as from several EJTN member institutions shared their experiences and insights on how to support gender equality within the judiciary. While the European judiciary is predominantly feminine men tend to occupy more of the leading position, and gender biases remain.