From 20 to 22 October 2025, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) convened its working groups in Malta, under the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, at the initiative of its President, Mr Francesco Depasquale.
A conference was held on the theme: “Challenges for a more efficient and citizen-centred digital justice in Europe”.
These meetings provided an opportunity to review ongoing projects and set priorities for the coming years.
GT-CYBERJUST: AI at the service of the courts
The GT-CYBERJUST group worked on:
- Guidelines for the use of generative AI in courts.
- Technology programme for judges.
- Key themes for 2026–2027:
- Automation of repetitive tasks
- Data sovereignty and open source AI
- Combating deep fakes and securing electronic evidence
- Regulatory compliance of AI systems (HUDERIA, EU AI Act)
- Quantum computing and communication security.
A study on the use of AI by legal experts, conducted by the European Institute of Expertise and Experts (EEEI), was presented. It will be used to update the CEPEJ guidelines on the role of experts, to incorporate digital and ethical issues.
GT-QUAL: Quality and access to justice
The GT-QUAL group focused on:
- User satisfaction assessment.
- Improving quality of life at work.
- Easier access to justice.
- Mediation, particularly for minors.
- Interpreting in court proceedings.
EEEI: 15 years of commitment to the CEPEJ
The European Institute of Expertise and Experts (EEEI) has been an observer member for over 15 years. This participation demonstrates our commitment to contributing to the debate on the role of legal experts and the impact of digital technologies on the justice system.
The following individuals participated in the EEEI meetings:
- Etienne Claes, current chairman
- Priscilla Pisani, Vice-Chairperson
- Jean-Raymond Lemaire, founding and honorary president
EEAI proposals: Why revise the guidelines on legal expertise?
- The initial guidelines date back 10 years and need to be updated and supplemented, particularly to include expert witnesses and amicable settlements during the expert assessment process.
- A great many court cases require expert opinions, which has an impact on the timeframes, costs and quality of decisions. It is imperative that the CEPEJ define a European framework for judicial expertise and the status of experts.
- Presentation of the French solution SelExpert: a digital directory of legal experts and an automation system for assigning tasks.
- Reminder: no tool can be developed in Europe without a reference framework, hence the need for revised guidelines.
These proposals were greatly appreciated by the participants.
Vision for 2026–2029
During the plenary meeting, two key points were highlighted:
- recognise the role of forensic experts in the effectiveness of systems;
- Revise the 10-year-old guidelines on forensic expertise to incorporate digital and ethical issues.
These proposals were among the topics approved at the plenary meeting on 4 and 5 December in Strasbourg.
Warm thanks to the President of the CEPEJ, Mr Francesco Depasquale, and to the Maltese Minister for Justice for their warm welcome and support.
Why is it important to be an observer member of the CEPEJ?
The EEEI is an organisation representing the world of judicial expertise. As an observer member of the CEPEJ, the EEEI plays a strategic role in:
- to make the voice of those involved in forensic science in general, and forensic experts in particular, heard in European discussions on the effectiveness of the justice system;
- facilitate the flow of information and coordination of initiatives between justice stakeholders and experts;
- contribute to the harmonisation of practices and the integration of digital innovations into judicial systems.
This position allows us to be at the heart of developments, to offer concrete solutions and to strengthen European cooperation in the field of digital justice and expertise.
The CEPEJ article on the meeting
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