MINUTES OF THE 3RD ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE PROCEDURAL LAW UNIT
During the 3rd Symposium of the Procedural Law Unit at the Law School of the University of Nicosia, discussions emphasised the critical need for modernising court operations to align with global advancements. The conference, titled “The Court of the 21st Century: Personnel and Equipment”, served as a platform for identifying challenges and proposing actionable solutions for the Cypriot judicial system and beyond. Building on the foundation laid by previous symposia, this event focused on key aspects of court functionality, including the integration of technology, efficient resource management, and the professional development of judicial personnel.
Participants in the symposium included a diverse array of collaborators, such as lawyers, academics, and institutional actors, who brought a wealth of expertise to the discussions. The inclusion of empirical research findings and insights from distinguished studies enriched the dialogue, enabling a nuanced understanding of the structural and operational challenges faced by Cypriot courts. Speakers presented innovative approaches to case management, the adoption of digital tools for court procedures, and strategies to improve the work environment for court personnel.
The event emphasised fostering a collaborative exchange of ideas, encouraging attendees to reflect on the broader implications of reform in the judicial sector. Through panel discussions and interactive sessions, participants were able to dissect pressing issues, such as delays in justice delivery and the adaptability of current court practices in a rapidly changing world.
Key discussions included the functionality of courts in a rapidly evolving world, the necessity for updated infrastructure, and addressing issues like delayed justice and corruption. Insights from a quantitative survey revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the justice system, with concerns over corruption and inefficiencies being prominent.
Prominent speakers, including experts from the European Commission and the Council of Europe, contributed to the dialogue, and proposals were made to address these challenges effectively
Ultimately, the symposium aimed to generate actionable recommendations, bridging theory and practice to ensure that Cypriot courts can meet the demands of the 21st century. By encouraging dialogue among key stakeholders, the event contributed to shaping a roadmap for the systematic enhancement of court infrastructure and personnel capabilities, paving the way for a more efficient and modern judicial system in Cyprus.
The Annual Symposium of the Procedural Law Unit is gradually becoming a tradition for the public discussion around justice reform in Cyprus. Lawyers, academics, judges and others interested in the administration of justice from Cyprus and beyond join the event every year for a valuable exchange of ideas which thereby feed the decisionmakers in further enhancing the judicial reform in Cyprus
Γλώσσα πρωτότυπου: Αγγλικά
ISBN: 978-9963-676-49-1
Υπότιτλος: MINUTES OF THE 3RD ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE PROCEDURAL LAW UNIT
Γλώσσα Βιβλίου: Αγγλικά
Τόπος έκδοσης: ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ
Έτος έκδοσης: 2024
Αριθμός Έκδοσης: 1
Δέσιμο: Χαρτόδετο
Θέμα: Ευρωπαϊκό Δικονομικό Δίκαιο
Είναι εξαντλημένο ή κυκλοφορεί: Κυκλοφορεί
Τιμή Αγοράς: 15 ευρώ
Αριθμός Σελίδων: 88
Διαστάσεις: 17Χ24
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Programme of the 3nd Annual Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2. Welcome Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.1 The Judicial Reforms that strengthened
transparency and accountability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
when incorporating new technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.3 The need to enhance justice
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 15
2.4 The importance of implementing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3. Keynote speech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
a New Cross-Cultural Meaning for Courts in the 21st Century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
3.2 The Main Trends of Transformation
of Civil Justice Systems in the 21st Century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
4. Cyprus reforms (emphasis on CPR, Independent Court Service) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
in Cyprus Judicial Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
4.2 Improving technology is essential, as is the cooperation
of lawyers with the judicial service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.3 Cooperating with European and Local Bodies to enhance justice . . . . . . . . . .35
5. Evaluation of judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
5.1 The necessity of improving the criteria for appointing judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
8
5.2 Criteria for evaluating judges to combat corruption
within the judicial system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
5.3 The analysis of data for the evaluation of judicial performance . . . . . . . . . . . .40
6 Survey of IMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
6.1 Survey on the quality of civil justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
7 Cyprus procedural law and the international scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
7.1 The Evolving Role of Non-Judicial Actors in Civil Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
for the development of electronic justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
7.3 The European Judicial Network’s contribution
to cross-border dispute resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
to the digitisation of Administrative Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Short Biographies of Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


