The University of Silesia Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Judicature, together with the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, in cooperation with the CEELI Institute in Prague, the Association of Croatian Judges, and the Polish Judges Association ‘Iustitia’, has successfully completed the international project ‘International Judicial Training: Boosting Judicial Competencies in a Post-Pandemic Reality’. The project was co-funded by the European Union under the JUST-2022-JTRA grant programme.
Implemented between 2023 and 2024, the programme aimed to enhance the competencies of judges in Central and Eastern Europe in applying European Union law. Over the course of the project, 10 specialised training sessions were conducted, with the participation of 298 judges from nine countries in the region.
‘We are proud to have been part of this project, which not only focused on the rule of law but also significantly increased judges’ awareness of the application of EU law in Central and Eastern Europe’, says Judge Krystian Markiewicz, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. and Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Judicature at the University of Silesia.
As a result of the project, three comprehensive handbooks were developed, providing invaluable guidance on the application of European Union law in criminal and civil proceedings, as well as covering key aspects of institutional law. These handbooks not only systematise knowledge on crucial EU legal instruments but also offer practical guidance, case law and best practices to support judges in their daily work.
The editor of the handbooks is Katarzyna Gajda-Roszczynialska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof., from the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Judicature (ICBWS).
- ‘EU Instruments in the Criminal Procedure. Boosting Judicial Competencies’ – a comprehensive study on key EU instruments in criminal cases, including the European Arrest Warrant, the European Investigation Order and principles of mutual recognition of judicial decisions;
- ‘EU Instruments in the Service of Independent Judges and the Rule of Law – Boosting Judicial Competencies’ – an analysis of the rule of law standards in the EU, the protection of judicial independence, challenges related to SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and the impact of digitalisation on access to justice;
- ‘EU Instruments in Civil Justice – Boosting Judicial Competencies’ – a guide to civil procedures, covering regulations on evidence-taking and document service, rule of law principles and GDPR compliance in judicial practice.
The handbooks have been translated into five languages – English, Croatian, Polish, Romanian and Bulgarian – to ensure broad access to legal knowledge across Central and Eastern Europe.
“These handbooks are an essential tool for judges who aim to effectively apply EU law and strengthen cross-border judicial cooperation”, emphasises Katarzyna Gajda-Roszczynialska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof., scientific editor of the publications.
Download the handbooks and apply them in practice!
The publications have generated significant interest, confirming the demand for high-quality judicial training materials. The handbooks are available for free download on the CEELI Institute website: ceeliinstitute.org/resources.
We encourage judges, legal practitioners, and EU law experts to take advantage of these resources and implement best practices in their rulings.
Krystian Markiewicz, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. | ICBWS materials
Katarzyna Gajda-Roszczynialska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.| ICBWS materials
