COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Judicial Training Strategy 2025 - 2030 Creating a supportive environment for DigitalJustice@2030
Date: 2025-11-20
Institutions: Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Union
Subjects: EU strategy, artificial intelligence, digital literacy, digital transformation, digitisation, electronic government, legal system, vocational training

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 20.11.2025  COM(2025) 801 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Judicial Training Strategy 2025 - 2030    Creating a supportive environment for DigitalJustice@2030            
 
 
1.  A Judicial Training Strategy for 2025-20301 

Digitalisation  and  the  uptake  of  AI  solutions  are  essential  to  building  the  capacity  of  public 
administrations  in  the  EU  to  deliver  efficient,  high-quality  public  services  in  a  cost-effective 
manner2.  This  is  equally  true,  and  critically  important,  in  the  field  of  justice,  where  digital 
transformation has the potential to enhance the efficiency and quality of justice systems and access 
to justice. 

Countries  which  have  effective  justice  systems,  guarantee  access  to  justice,  and  ensure  a  high 
quality of justice and transparency, are more likely to attract investment. Digitalisation and AI can 
therefore contribute to growth and the competitiveness of EU economies3. The quality of justice 
can be improved when justice professionals focus on their core duty of rendering justice, while 
digital tools are used for routine, technical tasks. Digitalisation of justice has the potential to deliver 
faster and simpler access to justice, bringing it closer to both individuals and businesses. It is also 
important for making justice more resilient to crisis, as illustrated during the Covid-19 pandemic. 
The  crucial  role  of  digitalisation  was  reaffirmed  in  the  European  Council’s  new  European 
competitiveness deal4 and in the Political Guidelines of President von der Leyen 2024-20295. 
The Commission’s DigitalJustice@2030 strategy6 aims to accelerate the digitalisation of justice 
systems in the EU by 2030. In practice, this means supporting the deployment of digital tools in 
justice to improve efficiency as well as enabling Member States to learn from each other in the 
development  and  use  of  digital  tools  and  infrastructure.  By  2030,  all  justice  professionals, 
businesses and individuals should be able to enjoy easy online access to all legislation and case-
law. It is also anticipated that every Member State will aim to have a single digital entry point that 
enables  all  individuals,  including  persons  with  disabilities,  to  make  contact  with  the  courts, 
participate in hearings and launch and advance judicial proceedings at any time, anywhere. This 
will significantly increase access to justice while reducing cost. 

Harnessing this potential requires justice professionals to acquire the relevant skills, knowledge 
and  awareness.  To  that  end,  judicial  training  is  instrumental  and  a  key  enabler  of  this 
DigitalJustice@2030 vision7, addressing digital skills gaps, underlined by the Draghi8, Letta9, and 
Niinistö10  reports.  The  Council’s  European  e-Justice  Strategy  2024-202811  highlighted  that  the 

1 The present strategy builds on previous strategies. It remains important to train justice professionals in the existing 
legal acquis, to ensure the effective application of EU legislation in the fields of civil and criminal justice and the 
practical application of fundamental rights. This strategy is informed by evidence from the EU Justice Scoreboard, 
Judicial  Training  Reports  and  stocktaking  of  the  results  of  judicial  training  2021  –  2024,  as  presented  in  the 
accompanying Commission Staff Working Document. It is based on a needs assessments carried out with relevant 
stakeholders, including at the Commission’s 2023  and 2024 judicial training conferences. 
2 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, p. 67. 
3 COM(2025) 30 A Competitiveness Compass for the EU, p. 7. 
4 Council of the EU (838/24) Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal, p. 1. 
5‘Europe’s Choice’ – Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission 2024−2029, p. 6. 
6 COM(2025)801 – DigitalJustice@2030 strategy. 
7 Conclusions of the European Commission and the Polish Presidency in the official Chronicle of the expert meeting 
under the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union in Warsaw - New Challenges of AI Development 
and e-Communication in the Field of Justice (19-20 May 2025). 
8 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, p. 36-37. 
9 Report More than a Market , p. 47, 21-22. 
10 Safer Together Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness, p. 78. 
11 European e-Justice Strategy 2024-2028 (C/2025/437), para 52. 

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digital transformation of justice must include the digital empowerment and capacity-building of 
its users and that special attention should be paid to training for justice professionals.  

To support the DigitalJustice@2030 strategy aims, this Judicial Training Strategy calls for specific 
measures to foster a supportive environment for upskilling justice professionals in the use of digital 
tools and infrastructure, building their knowledge on substantive and procedural EU and national 
law adapted to the needs of the digital economy and society, and developing understanding of the 
need for digitalisation. A central part of this is giving professionals the skills they need to use the 
new technologies12. In line with the Council’s conclusions on the use of artificial intelligence in 
the  field  of  justice13,  training  providers  are  called  on  to  develop  training  and  empower  justice 
professionals to cope with the digitalisation of justice systems, in particular the use of AI in justice.  

2.  Objectives 

2.1. Digital skills 

Europe needs a new approach to skills14. For this reason, the European Commission introduced 
the Union of Skills15, a plan which aims to ensure that everyone in Europe is empowered to build 
solid skills foundations, engage in lifelong upskilling and acquire all basic and advanced digital 
skills required to carry out their role16. It also adopted the Digital Decade Policy Programme17, 
which formulated the goal that by 2030, key public services should be delivered 100% online. The 
European  Commission’s  Communication  on  Enhancing  the  European  Administrative  Space 
(ComPact)18  provides  concrete  measures  for  promoting  the  sustainable  and  effective  use  of 
emerging technologies and the digital upskilling of the public workforce. 
To meet these aims, all justice professionals must acquire the necessary IT and AI literacy skills19. 
They  should  be  able  to  effectively  use  digital  tools  -  including  AI  -  and  infrastructure,  and 
competently apply digitalised cross-border procedures and tools, including the decentralised IT 
system established  by Regulation  (EU) 2023/284420. In addition,  they should  be able to access 
digital  databases  across  borders  and  manage  the  impact  of  digitalisation  on  court  proceedings. 
According to their professional roles they should be able to manage cases digitally, i.e. correctly 
assess,  transfer  and  process  digital  documents  and  make  appropriate  use  of  videoconferencing 
which  ensures  respect  for  procedural  rights  and  safeguards  for  suspects,  accused  persons, 
requested persons and victims, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and adherence to data 
protection  requirements.  Since  many  procedural  acts  are  prepared  by  or  otherwise  require  the 
involvement of court staff, they too should benefit from regular training in digital skills. Judicial 

12 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, p. 36-37. 
13 Council conclusions on the use of Artificial Intelligence in the field of Justice (16593/24), para 19. 
14 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, p. 36-37. 
15 COM(2025) 90 final EC Communication The Union of Skills, p. 4. 
16 COM(2022) 28 final European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade, p. 3. 
17 Digitalisation of public services on Europe’s digital decade: 2030 targets | European Commission, p. 4. 
18 COM/2023/667 final Enhancing the European Administrative Space (ComPAct) - European Commission 
19 Conclusions of the European Commission and the Polish Presidency in the official Chronicle of the expert meeting 
under the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union in Warsaw - New Challenges of AI Development 
and e-Communication in the Field of Justice (19-20 May 2025). 
20 Regulation (EU) 2023/2844 on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice in cross-border civil, 
commercial and criminal matters, and amending certain acts in the field of judicial cooperation. 

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training should also equip professionals to use digital systems that enhance children’s access to 
justice and judicial protection, while safeguarding their participatory rights. 

Training  systems  need  to  become  more  responsive  to  changing  skills  needs  and  skills  gaps 
stemming  from  technological  developments  that  impact  the  justice  systems.  Training  should 
enable justice professionals to adapt to the evolving legal environment and reduce digital skills 
gaps.  Managing  the  challenges  posed  by  digital  transformation  requires  effective  collaboration 
between justice professionals, IT experts and competent bodies. 

Training should also enable justice professionals to generate efficiency gains from the use of AI 
tools.  In  parallel,  it  should  promote  efficient  and  responsible  use  of  AI  tools  in  justice,  in 
compliance with the EU legal framework. When deploying AI systems, justice professionals as 
well as other staff of judicial administrations must have a solid knowledge of how to use AI tools 
both efficiently and responsibly within their respective working environments. Training initiatives 
should prioritise the development of AI literacy and the skills needed to understand, evaluate and 
appropriately apply AI tools. This includes full awareness of their benefits, limitations and inherent 
risks as well as ensuring compliance with the applicable legal framework. 

Electronic court filing  requires  staff of judicial administrations  to  be trained to  operate e-filing 
systems effectively and ensure they are used to their fullest potential21. Staff need to be well trained 
in  order  to  manage  judicial  data  correctly,  for  instance  to  publish  judicial  decisions  online  and 
make  such  information  accessible  in  a  structured,  machine-readable  and  downloadable  format 
which  will  also  then  feed  into  the  European  Legal  Data  Space.  To  understand  the  interaction 
between systems and data, judicial training should cover the topic of interoperability. This work 
can leverage on the work on the Interoperable Europe Academy22 in the context of the Regulation 
2024/903  (Interoperable  Europe  Act).  To  strengthen  the  digital  competencies  of  justice 
professionals in the exercise of their duties (or ‘e-judgecraft’), training topics should include e-
case management, e-courtroom management, leadership, communication using electronic means, 
ethics, cybersecurity and resilience. Leaders and managers in the justice sector must also develop 
change  management  skills  to  effectively  adapt  to  technological  advancements,  implement  new 
practices, and  guide  digital  transitions both within judicial administrations and in  collaboration 
with all justice stakeholders. These skills are essential to ensure a smooth transition to new digital 
systems and technologies. 

The key objectives of and actions called for in this European Judicial Training Strategy are fully 
compatible  with  the  specific  measures23  encompassed  in  the  Implementation  plan  for  the 
Commission Communication on Enhancing the European Administrative Space (ComPAct). 

Action  1:  Make  training  available  to  all  justice  professionals  to  build  their  IT  and AI  literacy, 
ensuring the training is tailored to their specific roles and responsibilities. 

Action 2: Provide dedicated and appropriate training modules to accompany all EU legal acts in 
the  area  of  judicial  cooperation  and  mutual  recognition  which  include  a  digital  component. 

21  CEPEJ  Guidelines  on  electronic  court  filing  (e-filing)  and  digitalisation  of  courts,  CEPEJ(2021)15,  CEPEJ 
Guidelines for the Online Publication of Judicial Decisions Aiming at Furthering Legal Knowledge CEPEJ(2024)9. 
22 Interoperable Europe Academy Interoperable Europe Portal and Interoperable Europe Academy on EU Academy 
23 They prioritise (among others): collecting and mapping existing training, developing passports of core competences 
and competency frameworks for novel skills (digital, green, innovation, etc), collecting and sharing good practices on 
GovTech and the use of AI, sharing standards for the definition of data models to comply with the Open Data Directive 
and sharing good practices on ethical standards for AI. 

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Furthermore, provide appropriate training, which is available to every user, to accompany IT tools 
and infrastructure deployed for use by justice professionals. 

Action 3: For each legal act on judicial cooperation falling within the scope of the Digitalisation 
Regulation, provide a training module - available in all EU languages - on the use of the digital 
tools established by that Regulation. 

Action 4: Invite European networks of justice professionals to systematically identify, document, 
and promote success stories and lessons learned from the rollout of IT tools and infrastructure in 
the justice sector. 

Action 5: Progressively roll a certification framework for the digital skills of justice professionals, 
reflecting the specific needs and characteristics of the different professions. 

2.2. Substantive law in the context of the digital economy and society and cross-border 

cooperation tools 

The digital transition has led (and will continue to lead) to new legislation regulating the use of 
new technologies in many fields of the digital economy and society. It has also brought (and will 
bring) changes to existing laws in order to address new technological challenges. It is therefore 
imperative that justice professionals know and apply substantive law addressing the needs of the 
digital  economy  and  society,  e.g.  the AI Act24,  Data Act25,  Interoperable  Europe Act26,  Digital 
Markets Act27,  Digital  Services Act28,  Digital  Content  Directive29,  Sale  of  Goods  Directive30, 
Product Liability Directive31 and Terrorist Content Online Regulation32. Justice professionals also 
need to understand and undergo practical training in EU data protection law, e.g. the General Data 
Protection  Regulation33,  Law  Enforcement  Directive34  and  EU  Data  Protection  Regulation35, 
which  is  relevant  in  the  context  of  digitalisation  of  justice.  Furthermore,  they  also  need  the 
knowledge of digital accessibility laws such as the European Accessibility Act36. Complex cross-
border digital transactions, the use of a digital approach in the proposed  28th regime corporate 
legal framework, algorithm-supported decision-making and personal data processing are just a few 

24 Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence. 
25 Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data. 
26 Regulation (EU) 2024/903 laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union 
27 Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector. 
28 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on a Single Market for Digital Services. 
29  Directive  (EU)  2019/770  on  certain  aspects  concerning  contracts  for  the  supply  of  digital  content  and  digital 
services. 
30 Directive (EU) 2019/771 on certain aspects concerning contracts for the sale of goods. 
31 Directive (EU) 2024/2853 on liability for defective products and repealing Council Directive 85/374/EEC. 
32 Regulation (EU) 2021/784 on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online. 
33 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and 
on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation). 
34 Directive  (EU) 2016/680 on the  protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by 
competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences 
or the execution of criminal penalties, and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Council Framework 
Decision 2008/977/JHA. 
35 Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by 
the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation 
(EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC. 
36  Directive  (EU) 2019/882  on the  accessibility  requirements  for  products  and  services,  as  well  as  Directive  (EU) 
2016/2102 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies. 

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examples of areas where disputes can arise which existing laws – that justice professionals were 
initially trained in – may not be designed to deal with. Thus when new or amended legislation, as 
well as associated CJEU case-law, emerges, continuous upskilling of justice professionals becomes 
essential to ensure that decisions are made in accordance with new legal rules and are enforced 
correctly and effectively. 

Justice professionals must also have a thorough understanding of procedural law and cross-border 
cooperation enabled by digitalised justice environments. The Taking of Evidence37 and the Service 
of Documents38 Regulations require judicial authorities to communicate electronically from 1 May 
2025 by using the decentralised IT systems established under those acts. It is therefore important 
that  justice  professionals,  in  addition  to  being  proficient  in  the  legal  framework  established  by 
those two Regulations are also well trained in using the decentralised IT systems. 

Regulation  (EU)  2023/2844  carried  out  a  major  digital  upgrade  to  the  existing  channels  of 
communication in the area of cross-border judicial cooperation. Justice professionals will need to 
be fully proficient in the use of the decentralised IT system and the European Electronic Access 
Point set up by that Regulation in order to be able to efficiently carry out their tasks. For example, 
a lawyer wishing to launch a small claim in accordance with the European Small Claims Procedure, 
should – in addition to knowing the procedural steps according to the Small Claims Regulation – 
be able to make use of the European Electronic Access Point to send the claim to the competent 
court in another Member State. In turn, the judge receiving the claim in the Member State where 
the judicial proceedings are taking place will need to be able to make use of the decentralised IT 
system to process the claim and send the court’s response back to the claimant. Similarly, a public 
prosecutor issuing a European Arrest Warrant must clearly understand when to transmit it via the 
Schengen Information System and when and how to use the decentralised IT system established 
under Regulation (EU) 2023/2844. 

The same judicial training is also needed with regard to the Joint Investigation Teams collaboration 
platform39 and the decentralised IT systems established by amending Regulation (EU) 2023/2131 
as regards digital information exchange in terrorism cases40, the e-evidence Regulation41, and the 
Transfer of Proceedings in Criminal Matters Regulation42. 

More  broadly,  justice  professionals  should  be  familiar  with  using  digital  tools,  particularly AI 
tools, in full knowledge of their limitations and the rules that govern their use and the inherent 
risks  of such tools. For  example,  justice professionals  should know how  to  properly use an AI 
speech-to-text system to transcribe audio recordings of court proceedings and hearings which then 
become part of the file, or to access data needed for criminal investigations from service providers. 

37 Regulation (EU) 2020/1783 on cooperation between the courts of the Member States in the taking of  evidence in 
civil or commercial matters (taking of evidence). 
38 Regulation (EU) 2020/1784 on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or 
commercial matters. 
39 Regulation (EU) 2023/969 establishing a collaboration platform to support the functioning of joint investigation 
teams. 
40 Regulation (EU) 2023/2131 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1727 and Council Decision 2005/671/JHA, as regards 
digital information exchange in terrorism cases. 
41  Regulation  (EU)  2023/1543  on  European  Production  Orders  and  European  Preservation  Orders  for  electronic 
evidence in criminal proceedings and for the execution of custodial sentences following criminal proceedings. 
42 Regulation (EU) 2024/3011 on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters. 

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Action  6:  Ensure  national  initial  training  curricula  and  continuing  training  offers  for  justice 
professionals address: 

- substantive law relevant to the digital economy and society, including on the protection 
of individual and business rights in the digital space; 

-  EU  cross-border  judicial  cooperation  and  mutual  recognition  instruments  in  civil, 
commercial and criminal matters, with a particular focus on digitalisation. 

Action 7: Invite European networks of justice professionals to regularly identify, document and 
promote the exchange of best practices learned from such training. 

2.3. Awareness raising 

The digitalisation of national justice systems and cross-border cooperation in civil and criminal 
matters is accelerating, while the development of new technologies which can be used in justice is 
progressing even faster. Justice professionals therefore need to be aware of the potential for new 
technologies to simplify their work and increase efficiency. They should also understand that all 
justice professionals need solid digital skills in order to master a digital working environment. 

Justice professionals must also be aware of the possible impact of modern technology, including 
AI,  on  fundamental  rights43  and  values.  Training  should  therefore  highlight  the  relationship 
between AI and judicial independence. 

Technology in the field of justice should support, not replace, human judgment and professional 
responsibility. Its purpose is to free up capacity among justice professionals so they can focus on 
their  core  tasks.  This  balanced  approach  is  essential  not  only  for  maintaining  professional 
motivation but also for safeguarding public trust. Moreover, it must also be the subject of training 
for leaders and managers who implement change in judicial administrations. 

Finally,  training  should  prepare  justice  professionals  to  play  a  proactive  role  in  the  design, 
development,  and  deployment  of  digital  products  and  services  related  to  their  work.  Digital 
transformation  processes should be designed  with and for justice professionals so that they are 
genuinely useful to their daily tasks44. 

Action 8: Make available to all justice professionals specific training on the relevance, utility and 
impacts of digitalisation, especially in relation to the use of AI, on justice professionals’ roles and 
responsibilities. 

Action 9: Train leaders and managers in the justice sector to actively promote the digital transition 
and to design inclusive transformation processes. 

Action  10:  Include  in  every  judicial  learning  programme  a  module  on  related  aspects  of 
digitalisation. 

Action 11: Facilitate cross-border professional exchange in order to build digital awareness. 

43  See  findings  of  the  research  conducted  by  the  European  Union Agency  for  Fundamental  Rights  (FRA)  on  the 
digitalisation of justice and how it affects the fundamental rights in the report Digitalising justice: a fundamental rights 
approach.   
44 Conclusions of the European Commission and the Polish Presidency in the official Chronicle of the expert meeting 
under the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union in Warsaw - New Challenges of AI Development 
and e-Communication in the Field of Justice (19-20 May 2025), p. 19, 21. 

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2.4. Other training objectives 

2.4.1.  Fundamental rights and rule of law 

Judicial training on fundamental rights is important for building justice systems which respect the 
EU’s founding values of the rule of law, democracy and equality. Such justice systems benefit from 
trust, which in turn drives growth. Thus, respect for the rule of law and well-functioning justice 
systems support entrepreneurship and investment. 

Independent  judges  and  other  justice  professionals  play  a  central  role  in  implementing  the  EU 
Charter of Fundamental Rights45 and secondary EU law, translating it into reality for people. In its 
strategy  to  strengthen  the  application  of  the  Charter  of  Fundamental  Rights46,  the  Commission 
committed to prioritising training opportunities on the application of the Charter, its scope, content 
and related  case-law, as  well as  its  interplay with the European Convention  on Human Rights. 
Training  on  fundamental  rights  should  also  cover  specific  EU  acquis,  such  as  whistleblower 
protection47, protection against hate speech or hate crime48 and child-friendly justice. Additional 
training  priorities  are  outlined  in  the  EU  Strategy  on  the  Rights  of  the  Child,  which  calls  for 
education on core principles such as the best interests of the child, the right of the child to be heard, 
and  the  need  for  age-appropriate  access  and  protective  procedures.  Training  is  also  needed  to 
ensure  the  application  of  non-discrimination  legislation  including  in  relation  to  persons  with 
disabilities.  More  broadly,  gender  equality  must  be  embedded  not  only  into  judicial  training 
content but also its organisation, including selection of training participants, expert involvement 
and data collection. 

Action  12:  Promote  national  initial  training  curricula  and  continuing  training  offer  for  justice 
professionals to address: 

- 

- 

EU acquis on the rule of law; 

EU acquis on fundamental rights and non-discrimination, including application of the EU 
Charter of Fundamental Rights, procedural rights and existing redress mechanisms. 

2.4.2.  Recurrent EU training areas 

By undergoing judicial training, justice professionals acquire the expertise to systematically apply 
EU  law  in  their  daily  practice,  ensuring  its  primacy  and,  where  applicable,  direct  effect.  This 
includes that the rights and obligations enshrined in EU law are respected at all times in domestic 
proceedings. To uphold the integrity and effectiveness of the EU’s legal order, justice professionals 
need  to  keep  their  knowledge  of  EU  legislation  and  relevant  CJEU  case  law  up  to  date.  This 
requires training, without which new legal instruments and case-law cannot achieve their intended 
impact. This is particularly relevant with regard to EU instruments governing cross-border judicial 
cooperation  and  the  principle  of  mutual  recognition.  Judicial  training  is  the  cornerstone  for 
building  a  stronger,  more  cohesive  European  area  of  justice  that  upholds  the  rule  of  law  and 
citizens’ rights. 

45 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (OJ C 326, 26.10.2012). 
46  COM/2020/711  Communication  from  the  Commission  Strategy  to  strengthen  the  application  of  the  Charter  of 
Fundamental Rights in the EU, p. 12-13. 
47 Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law. 
48 Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia 
by means of criminal law. 

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Judicial cooperation can only be effective where Member States consider decisions taken by the 
competent authorities of other Member States  to be equivalent to their own, implying not only 
trust in the adequacy of other Member States’ rules, but also trust that those rules are correctly 
applied. Emerging needs and practical challenges in applying EU judicial cooperation and mutual 
recognition  instruments  in  the  area  of  civil,  commercial  and  criminal  law  must  therefore  be 
addressed  by  training,  with  a  particular  focus  on  digitalisation  to  ensure  modern  and  efficient 
delivery of justice across borders. 

In  the  area  of  civil  judicial  cooperation,  more  than  20  instruments  already  exist.  Their  correct 
application  relies  on  justice  professionals  being  trained  in  such  instruments  as  the  Brussels  Ia, 
Brussels IIb, Service of Documents, and Succession Regulations, or the anti-SLAPP Directive49. 
Together  these  instruments  form  a  part  of  the  EU  acquis  that  is  quite  technical  and  often 
insufficiently understood, despite their growing relevance due to increased cross border movement 
of people and trade. 

In  relation  to  cross-border  judicial  cooperation  in  criminal  matters,  it  is  important  that  justice 
professionals receive proper training to ensure they correctly apply the numerous EU instruments 
in place. Most of these are based on the principle of mutual recognition, including new instruments 
such as the e-evidence rules, the new Transfer of Proceedings Regulation, and other relevant pieces 
of  legislation  such  as  the  recent  Asset  Recovery  and  Confiscation  Directive50.  To  effectively 
combat cross-border crime, justice professionals must also  understand how criminal offences are  
harmonised and punished across the EU, especially the recently adopted Directives on the violation 
of Union restrictive measures51 and on the protection of the environment through criminal law52, 
as well as the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of 
criminal law53 and the Directive on combating money laundering by criminal law54. Importantly, 
the  Anti-Trafficking  Directive  as  amended  in  202455  specifically  requires  Member  States  to 
promote or offer specialised training to court staff on offences concerning trafficking in human 
beings. 

49  Regulation  (EU)  No 1215/2012  on  jurisdiction  and  the  recognition  and  enforcement  of  judgments  in  civil  and 
commercial matters (recast); Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 on jurisdiction, the recognition and enforcement of 
decisions  in  matrimonial  matters  and  the  matters  of  parental  responsibility,  and  on  international  child  abduction 
(recast); Regulation (EU) 2020/1784 on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in 
civil or commercial matters (service of documents) (recast); Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 on jurisdiction, applicable 
law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and acceptance and enforcement of authentic instruments in matters of 
succession  and  on  the  creation  of  a  European  Certificate  of  Succession;  Directive  (EU)  2024/1069  on  protecting 
persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings (‘Strategic 
lawsuits against public participation’) together with the horizontal Anti-SLAPP Recommendation, C(2022)2428 final 
of 27.4.2022. 
50 Second sentence of Article 26 of Directive (EU) 2024/1260 (provision on training): ‘Without prejudice to judicial 
independence and differences in the organisation of the judiciary across the Union, Member States shall ensure that 
specialised training and the exchange of best practices is available to staff involved in asset identification, tracing and 
recovery and confiscation’. 
51 Directive (EU) 2024/1226 on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive 
measures. 
52  Directive  (EU)  2024/1203  on  the  protection  of  the  environment  through  criminal  law  and  replacing  Directives 
2008/99/EC and 2009/123/EC. 
53 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law. 
54 Directive (EU) 2018/1673 on combating money laundering by criminal law. 
55 Article 18b of Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its 
victims as amended by Directive (EU) 2024/1712. 

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Justice professionals must also be aware of the relevant EU bodies and agencies with a mandate 
to support judicial cooperation which national authorities must cooperate with to ensure a swift 
and coordinated reaction to the threats posed by cross-border crime. Training should therefore also 
be provided on the tasks and powers of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), Eurojust 
and the related obligations for national authorities to cooperate with them. 

The EU Strategy on Victims’ Rights (2020 – 2025) emphasises that training on victims’ rights is 
essential and must effectively reach all relevant actors who are in contact with victims, such as 
judicial authorities. A further area in which training is useful is the single market, which is key to 
the EU’s competitiveness. The single market can thrive only if its rules, in particular in the field 
of the free movement, are correctly enforced, so it is crucial that they are properly understood by 
justice professionals. The objectives of the EU environmental policy and proper application of EU 
environmental law can only be achieved if  justice professionals with relevant functions benefit 
from a specialised training. 

Finally, members of the judiciary would also benefit from training in dealing with representative 
actions  as  set  out  in  the  Representative Actions  Directive56  and  under  the  revised Alternative 
Dispute Resolution Directive. 

The training topics set out above were included in previous European judicial training strategies, 
with substantial EU support granted for developing training to address them. As these areas remain 
relevant,  judicial  training  providers  are  expected  to  continue  addressing  them  as  part  of  their 
activities. EU support will continue to be offered, subject to available funds. 

Action  13:  Ensure  national  initial  training  curricula  and  continuing  training  offer  for  justice 
professionals address: 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

the application of EU law in daily practice; 

new and revised EU legislation and relevant CJEU case-law; 

cross-border  judicial  cooperation  in  civil  and  criminal  matters,  including  relevant  EU 
bodies and agencies with a mandate to support judicial cooperation; 

EU  acquis  in  the  fields  of  rights  and  procedural  safeguards  for  suspects,  accused  and 
requested persons as well as victims of crime; 

EU single market acquis, in particular in the field of free movement. 

2.4.3.  Enlargement 

To meet EU membership criteria, candidate and potential candidate countries must employ judicial 
training in order to build an independent judiciary which is free from corruption, and effective, 
knowledge-based digital justice systems. Training is also crucial on judgecraft57, digital skills and 
European law with a focus on the rule of law and fundamental rights and their application in daily 
practice.  EU  support  should  aim  to  address  challenges  on  the  basis  of  a  sound  training  needs 
assessment  and  a  problem-oriented  approach.  Furthermore,  judicial  training  must  play  an 
important role in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction process. 

Action 14: Ensure judicial training in candidate and potential candidate countries addresses: 

56 Directive (EU) 2020/1828 on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers and 
repealing Directive 2009/22/EC. 
57 Judgecraft means the set of skills and attitudes of being a justice professional.  

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- 

- 

the EU acquis with a focus on the rule of law and fundamental rights; 

judgecraft 

3.  Delivering on objectives and performing actions 

3.1. Target groups and stakeholders 

This Judicial Training Strategy is targeted at the judiciary and judicial staff: judges, prosecutors, 
court and prosecution office staff, and other justice professionals associated with the justice system 
(lawyers  in  private  practice,  notaries,  bailiffs,  insolvency  practitioners,  mediators,  prison  and 
probation staff, and court interpreters and translators). The strategy addresses initial/induction and 
continuing training needs, with a particular emphasis on multipliers and court staff58 as operators 
of digital tools. As training needs differ according to professional groups and Member States (or 
candidate  countries),  it  is  important  for  professional  networks  and  organisations  –  alongside 
professional training providers – to be involved in judicial training activities since they know best 
the situations and various training needs of the categories of justice professionals they represent. 

Attention should be paid to addressing disparities and gaps in EU-law training between Member 
States,  professional  groups  and  geographic  regions.  Disparities  among  candidate  countries, 
including  in  the  digitalisation  of  justice,  should  also  be  taken  into  consideration  when 
incorporating them into relevant training activities and networks. 

The  European  Judicial  Training  Network  (EJTN)  holds  an  important  role  as  a  platform 
coordinating national and cross-border training for judiciary and judicial staff. 

European  training  providers  such  as  the Academy  of  European  Law,  the  European  Institute  of 
Public Administration, as well as the EJTN, the European Lawyers Foundation (ELF) and other 
justice  stakeholder  organisations  and  beneficiaries  of  EU  funds  should  organise  cross-border 
training  with  the  aim  of  fostering  a  broader  European  perspective  among  participants  and 
facilitating  cross-border  cooperation,  professional  exchange,  and  networking  between  justice 
professionals. The EJTN is well positioned to strengthen mutual trust, promote shared European 
judicial culture, and ensure the consistent application of EU law among judiciary and judicial staff 
across all Member States. This could be complemented and taken further by training providers at 
national level.  

All EU-level training providers should be the drivers of innovative training approaches and pilot 
new  training  methods.  In  addition,  they  should  develop  ready-to-use  or  adaptable  training 
materials translated into all EU languages covering EU priority training topics, and make these 
available  for  national  training  purposes.  Such  materials  should  be  designed  to  accommodate 
specific  national  contexts,  legal  frameworks  and  practical  circumstances,  and  be  tailored  to  or 
adaptable to the needs of different categories of justice professionals. 

The  European  Judicial  Network in  criminal  matters  (EJN-criminal)  and  the  European  Judicial 
Network in civil and commercial matters (EJN-civil) contribute to judicial training in the field of 
cross-border  cooperation  by  providing  resources  and  expertise,  supporting  peer  learning, 
facilitating access to practical information, and cooperating with providers of judicial training. 

3.2. Leveraging funding 

58  Defined  as  ‘the  support  staff  of  courts  and  tribunals  and  of  prosecutors’  offices,  whatever  their  educational 
background or legal status’ in the EC Study on the Training Needs of Court Staff on EU Law in the EU. 

10 

 
 
 
In accordance with Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2844, Member States are responsible 
for dedicating part of their training budget to  ensuring that justice professionals and competent 
authorities are trained to make efficient use of the decentralised IT system established under that 
Regulation  and  appropriate  use  of  videoconferencing.  Furthermore,  when  using AI  in  justice, 
Members States must fulfil their AI literacy obligations stemming from Article 4 of the AI Act. 

Through the digitalisation of justice, one of the  key trends of our time is currently reshaping a 
sector which is crucial for a functional society. There is broad consensus that judicial training is a 
crucial component 59 of the supportive environment needed to make this transformation a success. 
However, judicial training remains a national competence and national training budgets form the 
backbone of funding in this area.  EU financial support for judicial training is therefore not enough 
to achieve meaningful impact on its own. Therefore, efforts at both national and European level 
need to be combined to achieve the common aim of making the digitalisation of justice a success 
with the help of training. The Commission aims to use available funds to support judicial training, 
encouraging national authorities, judicial training institutions and professional bodies to perform 
actions and implement the objectives of this strategy according to the varying needs of Member 
States. In doing so EU funding can generate a leverage effect on national budgets. 

The Justice Programme will play a key role in implementing this Judicial Training Strategy by 
providing  action  grants  and  operating  grants  to  finance  cross-border  training  projects.  The 
Commission will improve internal coordination so that other EU programmes contributing to the 
training  of  justice  professionals60  are  consistent  with  the  priorities  of  this  Judicial  Training 
Strategy. Funding instruments must be better managed and coordinated to make the most efficient 
use of available budgets and to maximise the use of existing funding opportunities. Furthermore, 
the objectives and actions of this strategy need stronger coordination and integration at strategic, 
thematic and operational levels. In the area of criminal law, stronger cooperation with the European 
Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and the European Union Agency 
for  Law  Enforcement  Training  (CEPOL)  would  enhance  the  consistency  of  available  training, 
while  ensuring  strong  coordination  between  law  enforcement  and  judicial  authorities  and 
potentially realising economies of scale. 

Already  under  the  current  MFF  EU  and  national  funding  for  judicial  training  must  be  better 
coordinated in order to maximise their impact. Indeed, effective synergies between the various EU 
funding  instruments  and  between  EU  funding  instruments  and  national  budgets  is  essential  to 
avoiding overlaps and ensuring training content is closely aligned with the needs on the ground. 

59 See for instance page 6 of the Council e-justice strategy 2024-2028, which points out that ‘Capacity-building and 
training activities will help users to seize the opportunities presented by digital transformation, providing them with 
effective  and high-quality public services in the field of justice. Special attention should be paid to the initial and 
continuing training given to justice professionals, supporting the development of digital professional skills, in line 
with European judicial training strategies’ or the Council conclusions on the use of artificial intelligence in the field 
of justice which ‘invite the EJTN and national authorities or bodies responsible for judicial training to take into account 
the need for training and empowering justice professionals to cope with the digitalisation of justice systems’ and call 
for ‘training focusing on digitalisation of justice, including AI for justice professionals’. 
60 Examples of relevant programmes under the current MFF: the Single Market Programme, LIFE programme, Internal 
Security Fund, the European Union Anti-Fraud Programme, the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme, the 
European Social Fund Plus, Instrument for Pre-Accession-Assistance III, Technical Assistance Instrument. 

11 

 
 
 
Under the next MFF61, which covers the period 2028-2034, the Commission has proposed to make 
the EU budget simpler and more flexible, allowing funding to be channelled to new priorities and 
changing needs. One of the main goals of the new MFF is to overcome fragmentation, overlaps, 
disparities and different funding rules and to bundle various funding tools to better coordinate and 
target  spending.  Thus,  under  the  next  MFF,  the  Justice  Programme  will  continue  to  focus  on 
supporting the digitalisation of justice and related training. While the Commission has recognised 
that the Justice Programme should support the digitalisation of justice at EU level62, it has proposed 
to  considerably  step  up  its  budget,  which  will  support  judicial  training  for  the  digitalisation  of 
justice.  In  addition,  Member  States  will  receive  support  for  the  digitalisation  of  their  national 
justice  systems  and  for  related  training  through  the  National  and  Regional  Partnership  Plans63. 
These partnership plans will be anchored to European priorities but tailored to the specific needs 
of  Member  States  and  regions.  Member  States  will  therefore  be  able  to  take  advantage  of  this 
opportunity  by  incorporating  the  priorities  of  the  Judicial  Training  Strategy  into  their  national 
plans. 

The  objectives  of  the  Judicial  Training  Strategy  will  be  better  achieved  through  greater 
transparency  and  stronger  cooperation  and  coordination  between  all  stakeholders  involved  in 
judicial training. The Commission intends to support these efforts by providing incentives for the 
most  effective  national  training  providers  to  assist  others  through  regional  partnerships  and  by 
promoting the coordinated use of funding instruments in order to achieve long-term improvements 
across the EU. 

Finally,  the  Commission  has  already  stressed  that  better  alignment  between  EU  and  national 
investment priorities can maximise the impact and effectiveness of training related funding64. This 
means that the training results achieved through national training budgets could be optimised if 
Member  States  align  and  coordinate  their  national  training  objectives  with  the  objectives  and 
actions of this strategy, while tailoring them to national needs. This could be enhanced by Member 
States working together to address common challenges. Coordinated national and EU funding can 
produce  synergies  which  will  help  to  deliver  the  supportive  environment  needed  for  the 
digitalisation of justice, while making training efforts more sustainable and leveraging innovation 
and  capacity.  A  bottom-up  model,  complemented  by  EU-level  coordination,  could  empower 
Member States to make use of both national and EU budgets. 

European  networks  coordinating  their  national  members  will  be  instrumental  in  achieving  the 
objectives  and performing  the actions  of the Judicial Training Strategy.  In particular,  European 
networks of judicial training providers, such as the EJTN or the Council of Bars and Law Societies 
of Europe (CCBE) via the ELF should coordinate efforts of national judicial training institutions 
and  professional  bodies  creating  a  supportive  environment  for  the  digitalisation  of  justice  and 
secure the above-mentioned synergies, impact and funding optimisation. These networks should 
work  to  align  EU-funded  and  nationally  funded  training  initiatives  and  establish  structured 

61 COM/2025/571 - Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 
2028 to 2034. 
62 COM(2025) 570 Communication from the Commission. A dynamic EU Budget for the priorities of the future - The 
Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, p. 18. 
63  COM(2025) 565  –  Proposal  for  a  Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  the 
European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity 
and security for the period 2028-2034, recital 20 and Article 3(1)(e)(II). 
64 COM(2025) 570 Communication from the Commission. A dynamic EU Budget for the priorities of the future - The 
Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, p. 24. 

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communication  channels  between  the  EU  institutions  and  national  training  providers.  This 
principle must guide how Commission funding is used by the European networks supporting the 
training of justice professionals in the Member States ensuring that resources are used efficiently 
and deliver strong leverage effects across Member States. 

There are a number of EU-level professional networks which could also play a key role in helping 
to achieve structured and effective communication between the EU institutions and national justice 
stakeholders  and  training  providers.  These  include  the  European  Network  of  Councils  for  the 
Judiciary, the Network of Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union, the 
Association of the Councils of State and Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions of the European 
Union, the Network of Public Prosecutors or equivalent institutions at the Supreme Judicial Courts, 
the CCBE, the European Criminal Bar Association, the Council of the Notariats of the European 
Union,  the  European  Union  of  Rechtspfleger,  the  European  Union  of  Judicial  Officers,  the 
European Bailiffs’  Foundation, the European Organisation  of Prison and  Correctional  Services, 
the Confederation of European Probation, as well as associations of justice professionals. These 
networks must promote and contribute to training which is aligned with the objectives and calls 
for  action  of  the  Judicial  Training  Strategy,  support  capacity-building  among  national  training 
providers,  share  good  practice,  set  standards,  connect  stakeholders  and  encourage  cooperation 
between Member States on training programmes and projects. 

Action 15: Ensure EU funding is used by European networks of training providers to coordinate 
the  efforts  of  their  members  and  achieve  synergies  between  EU-funded  and  nationally  funded 
training, with a view to fostering a supportive environment for the digitalisation of justice. 

3.3. Commission support 

The Commission’s European Training Platform (ETP) will be further expanded to provide a truly 
comprehensive  judicial  training  toolbox  offering  complementary  high-quality  training  material 
funded from various sources which is well disseminated, coordinated and highly visible. It should 
foster synergies and avoid duplication and overlap in order to maximise the impact of the available 
resources  and  budgets.  Moreover,  the  ETP  will  host  ready-to-use  material,  both  for  individual 
learning and for use by multipliers, that can be further adapted to the national context and needs 
and potentially support the interoperability of national judicial training platforms. 

The Judicial Training Dashboard on the ETP will help the impact of this Judicial Training Strategy 
to be systematically monitored and show how Member States have fulfilled their training-related 
legal obligations65, created a supportive environment for the digitalisation of justice, and promoted 
best practices stemming from national and European success stories. Statistical data collected by 
the Judicial Training Dashboard will be limited to essential indicators and collected according to 
clear  standards  that  allow  for  comparability  of  data  from  different  sources.  The  data  will  be 
collected at regular intervals. Moreover, it will serve to measure progress towards judicial training 
objectives and implementation of required actions across Member States and professional groups, 
with a particular emphasis on the digital transition of justice systems and the application of EU 
law. 

A judicial training forum bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from the field of judicial 
training could serve as an additional results-oriented measure to support the achievement of the 
Judicial Training  Strategy  by  focusing  on  stakeholder  outreach  and  engagement.  Such  a  forum 

65 Article 4 of the AI Act and Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2844. 

13 

 
 
 
could aim to address training gaps and disparities between Member States, professional groups 
and geographic areas. 

It is important for European and national judicial training to employ practical, hands-on training 
methods to  help  professionals  adapt  to  increasingly  digital work  environments and absorb new 
practices. Face-to-face training is essential and should be complemented by distance learning to 
prepare and follow up face-to-face training, deepening the learning effects. Further benefits could 
also be realised by stepping up the sharing of best practices or organising professional exchanges 
and cross-professional  training. AI  could  also  be  better integrated in  judicial training itself,  for 
example to help professionals learn and stay updated on legal developments, to generate interactive 
real-world simulations or to allow professional skills to be practised and developed. Other digital 
tools, such as virtual reality, could be used, where appropriate, to accommodate different learning 
styles and needs. Judicial training should also be accessible to practitioners working in isolated or 
remote  areas  of  a  Member  State.  Certification  should  be  compatible  across  jurisdictions  and 
training methodologies should also avoid overlap or duplication. Sustainability must be ensured 
by enabling regular updates of training content. 

State of the art evaluation of training must become the standard and a precondition for receiving 
EU  support.  Training  providers  should  apply  appropriate  evaluation  methods  for  the  type  of 
training  provided,  measuring  not  only  the  reach  of  training  activities,  but  also  their  long-term 
impact. A range of tools should be used for this purpose including more systematic use of the EU 
Justice  Scoreboard  which  monitors  the  efficiency,  quality  and  independence  of  national  justice 
systems. Evaluation should be followed up with concrete measures, such as reporting on success 
stories or the performance of peer reviews to test how learning results have been implemented and 
applied in the participants’ workplace and organisation. All evaluation activities must ultimately 
be effective, make use of implementation science, and apply methods and strategies that monitor 
how learning has been used professionally, i.e. how the ‘know-do gap’ has been bridged. 

14