COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION of the 2011-2020 European judicial training strategy
Date: 2019-10-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission
Subjects: EU law, EU strategy, continuing vocational training, in-service training, judicial cooperation, legal profession, professional qualifications

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 25.10.2019  SWD(2019) 381 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION      of the      2011-2020 European judicial training strategy     {SWD(2019) 380 final}  
 
 
The aim of evaluating the European judicial training strategy was to assess the extent to which 
the strategy was successful in its implementation from 2011 to 2017 and whether it is still fit 
for today’s challenges. 

To do this, the European Commission drew up a stakeholder consultation strategy including 
an  Expert  Group  on  European  judicial  training,  an  open  public  consultation  and  a  targeted 
consultation, meetings and a stakeholder conference. A supporting study was carried out by a 
contractor. 

Effectiveness 

The strategy’s operational, specific and general objectives were achieved to a good extent 
overall. The target of training half of all legal practitioners on EU law between 2011 and 
2020, in itself a driver of political change, was achieved two years ahead of time. Over the 7 
years, almost all the justice  professions the strategy focused on reached the annual target of 
5%  of  practitioners  in  each  profession  receiving  training.  The  quantified  objective  of  1200 
judicial exchanges per year has been surpassed and there has been an ever-increasing growth 
in  the  number  of  training  activities.  The  strategy  led  to  an  almost  doubling  of  EU  funds 
available  for  training  legal  practitioners  and  significant  improvements  in  the  capacity  of 
networks  and  training  providers  such  as  the  European  Judicial  Training  Network 
(EJTN).  Some  other  operational  objectives  were  achieved  to  a  certain  extent,  such  as 
improved  national  regulatory  frameworks  and  increased  support  for  training  on  legal 
terminology in foreign languages. Overall, the strategy has helped increase knowledge of EU 
law while increasing mutual trust between legal practitioners. 

Efficiency 

The  costs  associated  with  implementing  the  strategy  were  considered  proportionate  and 
justified overall, given the number of legal practitioners trained. 

Relevance 

Stakeholders consider the strategy’s scope, objectives and tools to be highly relevant. There 
was  some  room  to  improve  the  strategy’s  objectives.  The  evaluation  confirmed  the  need  to 
better  reach  some  categories  of  justice  professionals,  notably  lawyers,  court  staff,  and 
further  focus  on  topics  such  as  the  rule  of  law,  fundamental  rights,  judgecraft  and  legal 
terminology.  While  supporting  the  strategy’s  geographical  focus  on  EU  Member  States,  the 
evaluation highlighted the need to extend priorities to non-EU countries that wish to adhere to 
European values. 

Coherence 

The strategy is  coherent overall. It fits  well with other relevant EU instruments in the field 
and  with  other  strategies  that  have  training  objectives  and  it  is  coherent  with  the  judicial 
training policies in the EU Member States. 

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EU Added Value 

The strategy brings EU added value. The political interest it triggered enabled EU funds to 
be allocated in this area. Most of the strategy’s objectives would not be achieved to the same 
extent  or  at  all  at  national  level  if  the  strategy  did  not  exist.  The  strategy  offered  EU-level 
networks and training providers a framework to coordinate their efforts and work towards 
common goals. 

Sustainability 

The  strategy’s  lasting  effects  are  visible  in  improved  knowledge  of  EU  law,  strengthened 
mutual  trust  and  an  increased  level  of  cooperation  among  justice  professionals  in  the  EU 
Member  States.  Training  providers  and  networks  also  consolidated  their  capacity  for 
delivering training on EU law. 

Conclusion 

The  results  of  the  evaluation  of  the  2011  European  judicial  training  strategy  were  widely 
acknowledged as highly positive and support the case for continuing efforts in this field. 

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