From early February to early March, the four EJTN Sub‑Working Groups held their first meetings under the 2026–2028 mandate. Each Sub‑Working Group elected its Convener for the three‑year period and discussed key topics related to the activities organised by the group.
Below you can find a short summary of the key points from each meeting.
Sub-Working Group on Administrative Law
The Administrative Law Sub-Working Group met on 12–13 February in Thessaloniki, hosted by the National School of the Judiciary of Greece. During the meeting, Judge Amelia Onișor from the National Institute of Magistracy of Romania was elected Convener of the group. The discussions took place in the context of the European Commission’s European Judicial Training Strategy 2025–2030, which sets out key priorities for judicial training in the EU, including the effective application of EU law, the safeguarding of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights, and the adaptation of justice systems to ongoing digital transformation.
A key focus of the meeting was the preparation of the EJTN administrative law training programme for 2027. Members discussed a range of thematic priorities, including the Preliminary Ruling Procedure, Asylum and Immigration Law, Data Protection, Public Procurement, State Aid, Environmental Law and Tax Law, as well as topics related to the role of court staff and developments linked to judging in the digital era.
The group also reflected on ways to maximise the impact of its activities through a combination of training formats. Several activities are expected to be developed under the “blueprint” approach, allowing national judicial training institutions to replicate EJTN trainings at national level and thereby strengthen the multiplier effect of the Network’s work. In parallel, this sub-working group explored complementary learning formats, including podcasts, videos and lunchtime webinars, aimed at supporting continuous judicial training and facilitating a broader dissemination of EJTN learning resources across Member States.
Sub-Working Group on Civil Law
On 5 March, the Civil Sub-Working Group held its first annual meeting at the premises of the Scuola Superiore della Magistratura (SSM) in Rome. During the meeting, the sub-working group elected the Hellenic National School of the Judiciary, represented by Presiding Judge Stylianos Bios, as Convener.
The Civil SWG reviewed the main priorities of the European Commission Justice Strategy 2025–2030 and discussed how these priorities could be reflected in the activities of the group. Particular attention was given to the evolving role of EJTN, notably its transition towards a stronger coordination role within the European judicial training framework.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of developing innovative learning methods, strengthening cooperation among national judicial training institutions and ensuring an effective transfer of knowledge at national level. Participants exchanged views on how the sub-working group could support the implementation of the Justice Strategy through targeted training activities, coordinated initiatives and improved sharing of expertise. The meeting helped align priorities and identify key areas of work for the coming years.
Sub-Working Group on Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Sub-Working Group convened on 24–25 February at the premises of the Scuola Superiore della Magistratura (SSM) in Rome and elected SSM, represented by Judge Vincenzo Sgubbi, as its new Convener. The meeting took place at an important moment for EJTN, as the Network is progressively adapting the development and delivery of its training activities to the priorities set out in the European Commission’s European Judicial Training Strategy 2025-2030. Discussions reflected a shared understanding that EJTN is moving towards a stronger coordination role within the European judicial training framework, ensuring a greater multiplier effect, complementarity and strategic alignment among national judicial training institutions.
Preparation of the 2027 training programme was a central focus of the meeting. The sub-working group identified several priority topics, including the e-Evidence legislative package, the JITs Collaborative Platform, asset recovery and confiscation, the management of illicit assets, victims’ rights, digital cross-border criminal justice, judicial cooperation and the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters, as well as recent CJEU jurisprudence.
The sub-working group also agreed on several training formats, including short webinars on CJEU jurisprudence concerning procedural rights, blended learning approaches combining introductory online modules with advanced seminars, the development of a blueprint training on asset recovery, and a train-the-trainer programme on e-Evidence for EJN contact points.
Sub-Working Group on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
The Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Sub-Working Group gathered on 5–6 February at the premises of the Bulgarian Institute of Justice in Sofia. Following her re-election as Convener, Blanka Javorac Zavrsek, Director of the Judicial Training Centre of the Republic of Slovenia, led discussions on the training programme and the main focus topics for 2026.
The exchange focused on key issues such as the promotion of the Rule of Law, the protection of vulnerable groups, the digital transformation of justice, challenges related to judicial impartiality, and the protection of victims. Participants also expressed strong interest in further developing blueprint projects based on activities implemented in 2026, with the aim of facilitating their dissemination and uptake by national judicial training institutions.
EJTN Members and the Secretariat look forward to delivering a high-quality programme addressing current challenges in the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, while ensuring that the knowledge generated through EJTN activities can be effectively shared and applied at national level.
For a complete list of all EJTN training activities in 2026, visit our Online Training Catalogue.
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