News
International Conference on the Rule of Law and the Administration of Justice
18-19 January 2025
The International Conference on “The Rule of Law and the Administration of Justice” brought together distinguished judges, university professors and legal scholars to discuss the challenges to judicial independence and governance in contemporary democracies. It was held on 18-19 January 2025 at Casa de Santa Maria in Cascais, in the premises of the EPLO Regional Branch in Portugal, and was organized by the EPLO Institute for the Global Rule of Law, in close cooperation with the EPLO Regional Branch in Portugal and with the valuable support of the Municipality of Cascais. This Conference took place right after the 6th Session of the EPLO Global Rule of Law Commission (GRoLC), hosted at the Municipality of Cascais on 17-18 January 2025.
Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, President of the EPLO Board of Directors and EPLO Director, and Ms. Margarida Lima Rego, Dean of the NOVA School of Law, delivered the opening remarks of the Conference. Professor Flogaitis highlighted the crucial role of international organizations in supporting judicial independence and strengthening the Rule of Law globally. Dean Lima Rego stressed that legal education plays a vital role in preparing future judges and legal professionals, ensuring they are dedicated to upholding the constitutional principles.
Ms. Maria Lúcia Amaral, Ombudsperson of the Republic of Portugal, through her keynote speech emphasized the fundamental role of judicial independence in upholding democracy and human rights.
The Conference featured four thematic sessions, during which the rapporteurs underscored the need for international legal cooperation and cross-border dialogue to protect judicial independence in an era of rising global challenges:
• “Rule of Law and the Administration of Justice”: Eminent judges and professors emphasized the necessity of strong legal and institutional safeguards to maintain judicial independence. The discussions also included the risks and implications of court-packing strategies as well as the growing impact of social media and artificial intelligence on the judiciary.
• “Map of Contemporary Attacks on the Judiciary”: Political interference, court underfunding and threats to judicial autonomy were addressed referring especially to case law by the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice and case studies from Brazil and Chile.
• “Social and Cultural Conditions of Judicial Independence”: The discussions focused on the role of legal traditions, public trust and the balance between judicial authority and democratic accountability.
• The “General Conclusions” session was chaired by Professor David Feldman, Emeritus Professor from University of Cambridge, and Ms. Teresa Violante, Director of the EPLO Institute for the Global Rule of Law, presented a comprehensive overview of the Conference’s main insights.
The Conference included perspectives from different legal traditions and governance models, leading to a truly global discussion on judicial independence. It hosted 52 participants from 21 nationalities, including judges, legal scholars, diplomats, government officials and civil society representatives. Among them, 66% were from Europe (41% from Portugal, 25% from the rest of Europe), 20% from Africa and 14% from the Americas and Asia. At the same time, the presence of the students from the EPLO ELGS MA program on “Global Rule of Law and Democracy”, now implemented on-site at the EPLO ELGS campus in Portugal, highlighted the importance of engaging future specialized legal professionals.
This International Conference reaffirmed EPLO’s commitment to strengthen the Rule of Law globally through institutional cooperation, legal education and policy initiatives.
6th Session of the Global Rule of Law Commission of the European Public Law Organization
17-18 January 2025
Τhe 6th Session of the EPLO Global Rule of Law Commission (EPLO GRoLC) took place on 17-18 January 2025 in Cascais, Portugal. Its distinguished members from all over the world were brought together once again to continue their work and deliberate on their third Rule of Law Report, dedicated this time to Africa.
This high-level Session was organized by the EPLO Regional Branch in Portugal with the generous support of the Municipality of Cascais and it marked another milestone in the Commission’s effort to strengthen legal governance, promote international cooperation and address key challenges in Africa.
The discussions during the Session focused on the third Rule of Law Report, which will be presented at the UN General Assembly (6th Committee) in due time during 2025. The Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal frameworks, governance structures and constitutional transitions across the African region and it emphasizes the importance of judicial independence, separation of powers and access to justice as fundamental principles of stability and development.
The Session was opened by Professor Giuliano Amato, President of the EPLO GRoLC, who highlighted the Commission’s commitment to addressing Africa’s unique legal and governance landscape. Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, Director of the EPLO, underscored the Commission’s role as well as the importance of the EPLO observer status at the United Nations. During the Session, the EPLO GRoLC members reviewed the first draft of the Africa Report. They stressed the importance of cooperating with the African Union and regional legal institutions to ensure that the Report presents accurately the African perspective, based on the contributions from the African members of the EPLO GRoLC. Additionally, they mentioned the need for alignment with Agenda 2063 to promote constitutionalism, institutional resilience and the connection between the Rule of Law and international peace and security. The Commission’s work will continue under the EPLO Institute for the Global Rule of Law, which provides scientific and research support to the EPLO GRoLC, in order to finalize the Report. Further deliberations will take place during the next EPLO GRoLC Session in July 2025.
Concluding, Professor Spyridon Flogaitis reaffirmed the EPLO’s commitment to promoting the Rule of Law globally, while Professor Giuliano Amato praised the collaborative efforts of the EPLO GRoLC members and reiterated the significance of presenting the Africa Report on global platforms.
After the conclusion of the above mentioned Session, an International Conference on “The Rule of Law and the Administration of Justice” was held on 18-19 January 2025 at Casa de Santa Maria in Cascais, within the premises of the EPLO Regional Branch in Portugal. This Conference further explored the issues discussed during the Session with a specific focus on judicial independence, providing a broader platform for international dialogue and collaboration.
EPLO's successful side event for the Global Rule of Law Commission at the UN NY
Friday, 01 December 2023
The EPLO organized a side event at the United Nations headquarters in New York in 30 November to inform states about the activities and initiatives of the Global Rule of Law Commission and to explain its usefulness and program for states. The Global Rule of Law Commission was announced at the 6th Committee of the UN General Assembly in 2021 and convenes twice a year at the headquarters of the EPLO Branch in Cascais, Portugal.
Its purpose is to elaborate and promote the idea of the Rule of Law within the framework of a dialogue of civilizations and perceptions as well as the provision of know-how to States wishing to have its support in various aspects of public life.
The side event was conducted in presence of two UN Under-Secretary-Generals, Mr Miguel De Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel who addressed the event and Mr Miguel Angel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations. The keynote speaker was the President of the Global Rule of Law Commission, Mr Giuliano Amato, former President of the Constitutional Court and former Prime Minister of the Italian Republic. The event was endorsed and supported by 14 states and was honored by the presence of a great number of esteemed participants.
The Global Rule of Law Institute has been announced
Mandate-mission
The Institute’s mandate is to develop and promote the Global Rule of Law principles at an international scientific and educational level. Its mission is gradually being evolved under the scientific umbrella of the GRoLC, through which it shall also expand its activities.
Activities-Competencies
The IGRoL assists and supports the GRoLC, follows its discussions, and executes its decisions. Moreover, it contributes to the research and preparation of the Rule of Law Report presented annually by the Commission to the UN General Assembly.
Furthermore, the IGRoL advances and implements various scientific and educational activities. In close cooperation with the European Law and Governance School (ELGS) of the EPLO and the Universities of Portugal, the Institute shall organize postgraduate studies, research activities, events, training seminars, lectures, courses, etc., in the fields of the essential elements of the Global Rule of Law, such as the foundations of the law and democracy, fair justice and judicial independence, human rights, transparency, and anti-corruption, among other significant thematic areas which constitute the principle and concept of the rule of law at an international level, according to the standards of the UN.
Director
The Institute of the Global Rule of Law works under the responsibility of a highly scientific and moral Director, Ms. Teresa Violante, Research Fellow at Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Visiting Research Fellow at Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht. Her position is honorary and discretionary.
Headquarters-Support
The IGRoL operates from the Headquarters of EPLO in Cascais. The EPLO allocated scientific personnel to the Institute for elaborating on and implementing its various responsibilities and competencies. Simultaneously, the Municipality of Cascais and the Regional Branch of EPLO in Cascais actively and substantially support the Institute’s functions.
EPLO announces the Global Rule of Law Commission
at the United Nations
Monday, 14 November 2022
The EPLO, having among its aims the promotion of public law and governance worldwide, in cooperation with the United Nations system, established a Global Rule of Law Commission, in the frame of its Global Rule of Law Initiative, which was launched in 2019 at the UN Headquarters.
The objective is to develop a comprehensive Global concept of the Rule of Law with respect to Universal Values and diversity, in a dialogue of civilizations. The Commission shall be available to all the nations to provide, if asked, advice and expertise on issues of Rule of Law.
A side event for the presentation of the Commission, sponsored by the Permanent Representations of Greece, Italy, Mozambique and Portugal to the United Nations took place on 14 November 2022, at conference room 7 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The event was welcomed by Mr Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel and by: Ambassador Maria Theofili, Permanent Observer of Greece to the United Nations, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, Ambassador Ana Paula Zacarias, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations and Mr Omar Remane, Sixth Committee delegate for Mozambique.
Keynote Speaker was the President of the Committee, Professor Giuliano Amato, former President at the Constitutional Court of Italy, former Prime Minister of the Italian Republic.
The event was chaired and moderated by Ambassador Barbara Faedda, Permanent Observer of EPLO to the United Nations NYC.
EPLO launched its New Global Rule-of-Law Initiative in UN New York
Wednesday, 20 November 2019
EPLO’s new “GLOBAL RULE-OF-LAW INITIATIVE” was launched at the UN Headquarters in New York on November 20, 2019, with the active substantial and organizational assistance, in cooperation with the co-sponsoring states of Armenia, Georgia, India, Angola, Argentina and the support of the Member States of EPLO.
Prof. Giuliano Amato, constitutional judge and former Prime Minister of the Italian Republic was the keynote speaker. Ambassador Maria Theofili, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations delivered welcoming remarks and spoke about the fruitful cooperation between Greece and the EPLO. Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs also intervened at length at the meeting, whereas Dr. Barbara Faedda, EPLO Permanent Observer to the United Nations and Executive Director of the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America at Columbia University moderated the panel discussion. In a full room, many state representatives attended, took the floor and praised the organization for this initiative.
The EPLO Global Rule of Law Initiative shall work in developing the concept of the Rule of Law in a perspective of a dialogue of civilizations in equality and respect of all. The Global Rule of Law Initiative is a project designed to provide, through eminent personalities from all geographical regions, technical assistance and expertise on issues pertaining to the rule of law to all states on a voluntary basis, irrespective of whether they are members of the EPLO.
