Berlin
WP2-WG1 reports on 3 November 2022 in Berlin
A meeting of WP2 Working Group 1, led by Verena Wirwohl, lawyer for a German expert association, was held on 3 November in Berlin at the B.V.S. premises. Objective: definition of criteria for legal experts.
Progress report on WP2-WG1 early November 2022
By Verena Wirwohl
The task of Working group 1 is to define the qualifications of a Judicial Expert. The working group analyses the criteria, that make an expert one. On the one hand, the group’s aim is to present minimum criteria for this, and on the other hand, best practice examples should be introduced.
After the introduction to the project, in which the groups came together and discussed a common goal, all working groups worked on the questionnaires for the identified countries of the project. In working group 1, too, each member approximately completed two questionnaires on the countries assigned. This step was defined in two Zoom meetings in August and September, always with the support of the project assistant.
Once the documents had been submitted on time, the project moved on to phase 2. To facilitate the organization of this and to allow for a more intensive exchange, a face-to-face meeting was arranged in Berlin, which took place on 3 November 2022.
After a meeting the evening before, the group worked through the relevant sections of the questionnaires in an all-day session. To better understand, which definitions are used in said countries for the qualification of experts, the present participants were divided into two subgroups. One of the groups dealt with the question of how the buzzwords of “Being a “fit and proper” person (in terms of moral qualities: independence, impartiality, objectivity, and integrity)” was secured in various countries, with a special focus on the pilot countries. The other group looked at the question of how to ensure that experts are able to either possess and maintain a high standard of technical knowledge and practical experience in their professional field, but also keep their knowledge up to date, both in their expertise and as Experts, and undertake appropriate continuing professional developments and training.
In the second half of the meeting, the results found were discussed with the members of the other subgroup. After the meeting, the corresponding work results are currently written down and will be given to the group again. Then an online meeting will take place at the end of November to discuss the paper and find consensus within the working group.
The working group must submit a deliverable to the European Commission by the end of February 2023 presenting the first conclusions on the issues identified. The group will then meet in May 2023 to prepare the intervention at the consensus conference.
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