The President of the Judicial Council welcomed a delegation of MEPs
After more than two years, a delegation of members of European Parliament (MEPs) from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) visited Bratislava. The delegation was led by Committee Chair Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the LIBE Committee's Monitoring Group on Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights (DRFMG) Sophie Wilmès, and MEPs Daniel Freund and Milan Uhrík. One of the first stops after arriving in the capital was the seat of the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic. The delegation was welcomed by Judicial Council´s President Marcela Kosová.
‘I appreciate that MEPs from LIBE have visited for the first time the constitutional body responsible for judicial legitimacy. Their questions focused primarily on the status of members of the Judicial Council, guarantees of judicial independence, recent changes to the criminal code and disciplinary proceedings against judges,’ explained Marcela Kosová.
The group focuses on strengthening fundamental rights, combating all forms of discrimination and fighting corruption in all Member States of the European Union. "The Judicial Council is an important participant in these discussions. MEPs wanted to hear the Judicial Council President's views on the state of the Slovak judiciary, the reforms that have taken place in Slovakia and the threats made by politicians against judges. These are all extremely important issues. MEPs meet with various partners, and the Judicial Council is one of them," said Robert Sermek, Head of the EP Office in Slovakia.
The President of the Judicial Council provided expert answers to all the questions raised by the delegation. She provided more details, for example, on the election of members of the Judicial Council and how its independence is ensured. She also drew attention to the amendment of the Slovak Constitution, which entered into force at the beginning of 2021 and established the possibility of dismissing a member of the Judicial Council at any time. The President of the Judicial Council emphasised that all powers vested in the Judicial Council are part of the judiciary and therefore none of the powers of the Judicial Council within the judiciary can undermine the balance between the executive, legislative and judicial powers. The President of the Judicial Council also pointed to the increasing number of various forms of attacks on judges. "The meeting with the President of the Judicial Council was very factual. A lot of information was shared during the meeting. I think that MPs now have a lot of material to process and form their own opinion on the state of the judiciary in Slovakia," concluded Robert Sermek, Head of European Parliament Office in Slovakia.
‘I appreciate that MEPs from LIBE have visited for the first time the constitutional body responsible for judicial legitimacy. Their questions focused primarily on the status of members of the Judicial Council, guarantees of judicial independence, recent changes to the criminal code and disciplinary proceedings against judges,’ explained Marcela Kosová.
The group focuses on strengthening fundamental rights, combating all forms of discrimination and fighting corruption in all Member States of the European Union. "The Judicial Council is an important participant in these discussions. MEPs wanted to hear the Judicial Council President's views on the state of the Slovak judiciary, the reforms that have taken place in Slovakia and the threats made by politicians against judges. These are all extremely important issues. MEPs meet with various partners, and the Judicial Council is one of them," said Robert Sermek, Head of the EP Office in Slovakia.
The President of the Judicial Council provided expert answers to all the questions raised by the delegation. She provided more details, for example, on the election of members of the Judicial Council and how its independence is ensured. She also drew attention to the amendment of the Slovak Constitution, which entered into force at the beginning of 2021 and established the possibility of dismissing a member of the Judicial Council at any time. The President of the Judicial Council emphasised that all powers vested in the Judicial Council are part of the judiciary and therefore none of the powers of the Judicial Council within the judiciary can undermine the balance between the executive, legislative and judicial powers. The President of the Judicial Council also pointed to the increasing number of various forms of attacks on judges. "The meeting with the President of the Judicial Council was very factual. A lot of information was shared during the meeting. I think that MPs now have a lot of material to process and form their own opinion on the state of the judiciary in Slovakia," concluded Robert Sermek, Head of European Parliament Office in Slovakia.
Edited recording of the meeting with the delegation from the European Parliament
