On 14 November, the European Forum of the Legal Professions convened for its fourth annual conference at the Belgian Council of State in Brussels. With 50 participants onsite and over 480 online, this year’s conference was the largest to date, confirming its role as a key platform for dialogue among Europe’s legal professionals.
Under the theme “The Need for Constant Vigilance: The Role of the Legal Professions in Maintaining Democratic Values,” the Forum brought together judges, lawyers, judicial officers, court staff, and representatives of bar associations, law societies, and judicial councils. Discussions focused on the responsibility of legal professions in safeguarding democratic principles and the rule of law.
In her keynote address, Ana Gallego Torres, the European Commission’s Director-General for Justice and Consumers, emphasised the pivotal role of legal professionals as “gatekeepers and defenders of our justice systems” and as central actors in upholding freedom, security, and justice across the Union.
The programme featured high-level presentations, interactive roundtables, and dynamic exchanges with both onsite and online participants. Speakers represented a wide range of European judicial bodies and professional organisations, including the CCBE (Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe), UIHJ (Union Internationale des Huissiers de Justice), AEAJ (Association of European Administrative Judges), EUR (Europäische Union der Rechtspfleger), the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary, the Council of State of Greece, the Supreme Court of Lithuania, and the Turin Court of First Instance.
ERA extends its gratitude to all partners, speakers, and participants for their valuable contributions. The conversations initiated in Brussels reaffirmed the importance of the European Forum of the Legal Professions as a platform for cross-professional dialogue and international exchange.
