As every year, the EU Commission published the Justice Scoreboard. It provides a summary of data on the key elements of an effective national justice system, namely efficiency, quality and independence. In her foreword, Vice-President Věra Jourová underlined that the Scoreboard had become an established and fundamental instrument in the EU’s Rule of Law toolbox and would support today numerous important European Commission policies.

The 12th edition also provides information on how advanced judicial authorities are managing the digital transformation. The figures show that experts can be heard by distance communication technology in almost all types of cases and EU Member States. Different from notaries, lawyers and bailiffs still no data is yet available on of secure electronic communication between courts and experts for giving evidence and general communication.

The results of this year’s edition reveal that there would still be room for improvement in the digitalisation of justice systems: Only six Member States have procedural rules allowing the admissibility of evidence in digital form in civil, commercial, administrative, and criminal cases. In 26 Member States, this is a possibility in some cases or in some areas of law.

The 2024 edition includes, for the first time, specific new figures on the independence of justice, for example on the appointment of court presidents, on national frameworks regarding asset declarations, and on the dismissal of Prosecutors General.Details of the scoreboard 2024 can be read here.

Source: EU Commission