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On 11 June 2026, a Board meeting of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union (the Network) was held in Cyprus. Dr Danguolė Bublienė, President of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, participated in the meeting as a member of the Board.

According to Dr D. Bublienė, the Board discussed key organisational and strategic issues related to the Network’s activities, including strengthening cooperation among Europe’s supreme courts, safeguarding the independence of judicial institutions, and implementing future initiatives.

The Board also considered preparations for the General Assembly to be held on 12 June. One of the main issues on the agenda was the proposed amendments to the Network’s Statutes.

The four proposed amendments to the Statutes aim to establish more clearly that membership of the Network is open only to Presidents of Supreme Courts of European Union Member States whose courts meet the criteria of an independent and impartial tribunal established in the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the requirements of effective judicial protection established in the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. It is also proposed that compliance with these criteria be assessed both when admitting new members and on an ongoing basis in respect of existing members of the Network.

Draft Articles 8 bis and 11 bis, proposed as additions to the Network’s Statutes, were also considered. These provisions aim to establish a clear mechanism for suspending the status of members, associate members or observers where serious grounds exist. Under the proposed provisions, both the General Assembly and the Board could, in certain circumstances, decide to suspend membership where a breach of the standards of judicial independence, impartiality or effective judicial protection has been established. Such decisions would be adopted by a qualified majority and subject to established procedural safeguards, including the right to be informed of objections concerning membership and the right to provide explanations.

The proposed amendments to the Network’s Statutes will be considered and put to a vote at the Network’s General Assembly on 12 June.

The meeting also considered the application of Zbigniew Kapiński, First President of the Supreme Court of Poland, for membership of the Network. Board members discussed the candidate’s professional career and other issues related to his application to become a member of the Network.

“Considerable attention was devoted to the Network’s programme of activities for 2027. The Board discussed planned international colloquia, conferences, seminars and other events aimed at facilitating the exchange of judicial practice and strengthening dialogue among the supreme courts of European countries. Information was also presented on the exchange of information requests between national courts facilitated through the Network,” said Dr D. Bublienė, President of the Supreme Court of Lithuania.

Board members were also informed about the progress of the 2026 Judges’ Exchange Programme and discussed the further development of the Common Portal of Case-Law, with a view to promoting more efficient access to case-law and the exchange of jurisprudence among the European Union Member States.

The Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union brings together the heads of supreme courts of European Union Member States and aims to strengthen cooperation among judicial institutions, judicial independence and the exchange of good practices within the European legal area.

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Tautvilė Merkevičiūtė
Supreme Court of Lithuania
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Email: t.merkeviciute@lat.lt
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