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1. PROMOTING THE INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY OF THE JUDICIARY IN THE EUROMED REGIONJustice Working Group meeting, Casablanca, 10 November 2006 Justice WG - 1

2. General Background • Lack of an independent, impartial and efficient judiciary in South and East Mediterranean countries • The judiciaries not assuming their role according to rule of law principles: under the direct control of the executive; powersnot conform to international human rights norms; complimentary role to the police in repressing rights and fundamental freedoms • Civil society too weak to influence reforms in the field of justice Justice WG - 2

3. Specific background • Euromed Conference on Access to Justice, April 2001 • followed by a EMHRN project on justice • publication of the 2004 Report on “Justice in the South and East of the Mediterranean region” - overview of relevant international standards concerning justice - description and analysis - conclusions and recommendations • Seminar in Casablanca, June 2004 Justice WG - 3

4. Specific background The recommendations of the report includes : • Developing broader spaces in societies for a free debate on justice and stronger relations between relevant parties concerned (members of the judiciary, HR NGOs, lawyers, Gvts, others) • Disseminating the final report and promoting the drafting of national reports on the legal systems • Increase co-ordination and exchange of information while strengthening advocacy in the national parliaments, partner governments, European institutions, international NGOs. Justice WG - 4

5. Objectives of the project • Long term: instauration of an independent and impartial judiciary in the South and East EuroMed region • Mid-term : further the development of networks and groups of actors able to influence the judiciaries towards reform. Justice WG - 5

6. Objectives of the project • Short term: • Contribute to the development of spaces for free debate between key actors on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary • 2. Developing regional exchange and synergies between civil society actors to advocate for and monitor regional reform/modernisation initiatives Justice WG - 6

7. Project activities • 4 national séminars • 4 national reports on the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary • 1 Survey of ongoing initiatives to promote the independence and impartiality of the judiciary • 1 regional seminar where the national reports and the survey about reform initiatives will be presented and discussed. WG Justice - 7

8. 4 National Seminars • Morocco: 11-12 November 2006 • Jordan: 13-14 January 2007 • Lebanon: 10-11 March 2007 • Tunisia: 5-6 May 2007 WG Justice - 8

9. 4 National Seminars • Presentation and discussion of the content of the report in the light of the country situation • Discussion of eventual ongoing reform initiatives • Discussion of the drafting of the national report WG Justice - 9

10. 4 National Reports • on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary • drafted after each seminar • follow-up by local members of the WG • linked to ongoing activities on judicial reform such as those envisaged in the Action Plans of the European Neighbourhood Policy. • National and regional diffusion WG Justice - 10

11. Regional Survey on Reform Initiatives • Level: national government, bi-lateral (between EU member states and South member states) or inter-governmental • Complimentary to the local reports • Research done in connection with the national seminars and in cooperation with the WG members. WG Justice - 11

12. Funding • European Commission - EIDHR • Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency • Ministry of Justice of Belgium WG Justice - 12