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Description
Programme outcome the project contributes to: “Improved application of European legal framework by the Bulgarian judiciary”.
The project aims at improving the specific procedures and rules for career development, appointment and selection of magistrates, the integrity check procedures and the management and administration of the judiciary. The project will contribute to implementation of the adopted updated strategy for continuing the judicial reform in Bulgaria as well as to practical implementation of recommendations in GRECO reports.
The project shall include, inter alia, the following activities:
- Actions developed to ensure improvement in Bulgarian judiciary through introduction of procedures with clear rules for appointment and selection of magistrates, as well as clear rules for career development of magistrates based on professional and personal qualities;
- Strengthened capacity in application of the European Convention on Human Rights through secondment of judges to the European Court of Human Rights;
- Improvement of the restorative justice implementation through capacity/knowledge - building and a study on the restorative justice mechanisms implemented in the judiciary systems of Norway.
Summary of project results
The project ambition was to contribute to the improvement of efficiency of the judiciary through improvement of the procedures for appointment, selection, and career development of magistrates, strengthening of the capacity of the members of the Bulgarian judiciary in relation to the adherence to and application of the provisions of the European Convention of Human Rights. In the meantime, the project will propose measures for promoting the approaches of restorative justice and their application in the Bulgarian context.
The predefined project included actions to ensure the improvement of the Bulgarian judicial system in connection with the procedures for appointment, selection and for career development of magistrates. A proposal was developed for organizational and legislative changes in the procedures for the appointment, selection and for career development of magistrates. It received approval by the Plenum of the SJC. Preparatory work was done by a working group of magistrates – analysis, study visit to Norway, roundtable.
Activity related to strengthening the capacity of the Bulgarian magistrates in the Implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights was successfully implemented. Six Bulgarian magistrates seconded to the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights. Three Bulgarian magistrates seconded to the Department of Execution of Judgements of the Council of Europe. Public events carried out for dissemination of the gained experience in the internships.
The project also focused on improving the implementation of the restorative justice mechanisms. It elaborated Proposal for legislative changes for introduction of restorative justice mechanisms in the criminal justice and upon execution of the punishment and Proposal for law amendments in the field of the judicial interpreters. An Information system was developed - Unified Register of Judicial Interpreters.
The produced analysis "Measures to ensure the better functioning of the Bulgarian judicial system in connection with the procedures for the appointment, selection and career development of magistrates" aims to ensure better functioning of the Bulgarian judiciary with regards to the procedures for the appointment, selection and career development of magistrates.
The `Analysis of the mechanisms of restorative justice` with draft proposals to improve the implementation of restorative justice.
The `Analysis of the Activity of Judicial Interpreters in the Republic of Bulgaria` also served to outline the parameters of the Unified Electronic Register of Judicial Interpreters.
The Unified Register of Judicial Interpreters will be used by all judicial authorities and will also be made available for use to all users of judicial services thus contributing to the more transparent and efficient administration of justice and the improved access to justice.
Summary of bilateral results
The project was implemented by the Supreme Judicial Council in partnership with the Norwegian Courts Administration and in cooperation with the Council of Europe.The Norwegian Courts Administration as a donor project partner was directly involved in the implementation of Activity 1 “Actions to ensure the improvement of the Bulgarian judicial system in connection with the procedures for appointment, selection and for career development of magistrates”, Activity 3 “Improving the implementation of the restorative justice mechanisms”, and the “Information and Publicity” activity.