Representatives from judiciaries, ministries of justice, bar associations and civil society organisations of Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries will meet in the Moldovan capital Chisinau on 28 June to discuss the selection, evaluation and promotion of judges, the role of high courts in ensuring harmonisation of judicial practice and equality in civil and criminal proceedings.

The meeting is part of a project on regional dialogue on judicial reform in the EaP countries, implemented under the joint EU/Council of Europe Programmatic Co-operation Framework for Eastern Partnership countries (EU/EaP PCF).

Discussions will be facilitated by international experts and will aim at exchanging information and views on lessons learned from the region and the wider Council of Europe area, increasing awareness of relevant European and international standards, as well as identifying shared challenges and possible ways in which these could be dealt with.

The joint EU/CoE PCF aims to provide extensive and substantial expertise on strengthening the capacity of institutions in the six Eastern Partnership countries to implement domestic reforms and bring them closer to Council of Europe and European Union standards in the fields of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and improve the lives of citizens. The EU’s contribution to the PCF is EUR 30 million, ENPI-INFO reports.