Speeches

Remarks by President Dalia Grybauskaitė at the General Assembly of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary

Mr. President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary,

Distinguished Participants and Guests of the General Assembly Meeting,

I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome all of you at this high-level forum.

This is the first time that such a large and important meeting of the representatives of European independent judiciary councils is held in Lithuania. It is not only a great and exceptional privilege to host it, but also an excellent opportunity to develop closer mutual relations.

When the EU Constitution and, later on, the Lisbon Treaty were discussed, extensive focus was placed on the European identity and values. Two fundamental principles had never raised even the slightest doubt in this debate: equal opportunities for all and the rule of law. Therefore, European citizens rightfully expect that these principles are implemented by every court of law and each of you personally.

I believe that this forum will be useful to all of its participants in sharing their experience on how the judiciary can enact in the best possible way the two core principles of EU existence.

Changes in the judiciary system are preconditioned by economic and political factors as well as by public expectations. Maintaining high standards of administering justice and effective performance of the judiciary is important not only to Lithuania, but to Europe as a whole. The experience of European courts in how to better organize and handle the increased case flow must be analyzed and summarized to make relevant conclusion for the future. So that it does not result in unjustifiably prolonged judicial proceedings and delayed justice. So that it does not impair the quality of delivering justice.

Honorable Judges, your goodwill efforts alone, however, will not be enough to accomplish this purpose. We should seek to enlist the active support of every European for the determination of the judicial community to serve the interests of the people and society. This will become possible only when European societies can expect the courts not only to implement the letter of the law, but also to administer justice. Legal amendments are needed to simplify judicial proceedings. The judicial system must be clear and transparent, and information on courts and their work must be available to all.

The courts and society are inter-dependable. It is only when citizens have trust for law enforcement and judiciary that we can hope to have full public support for the implementation of the principle of genuine independence of courts. Judicial independence and impartiality is not a privilege, but an inherent human right. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, too, ensures the right to effective justice as well as equal rights and opportunities in every day life.

I wish the General Assembly meeting many creative ideas, concrete thoughts, extensive and comprehensive reports, and fruitful discussions. I also wish the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary to be an institution that expands the judicial perspective.

I firmly believe that close transnational cooperation, established and strengthened at this forum, will serve to improve the judicial system across Europe.