On May 13 and 14, the Chairman of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Supreme Court Valerijans Jonikans participated in the General Assembly of the Association of the State Councils and the Supreme Administrative Courts of the countries of the European Union in Warsaw.

The Assembly dealt with the issues on possibilities of usage of the electronic databases DEC-NAT and Jurifast. These databases which are under surveillance of the Association publish both rulings of the Court of the European Community and the courts of the EU member states. The discussion was held regarding the attitude of each of the member states when entering the judgments of their courts in the databases regarding the issues on application of the law standards of the European Community supplied by respective reviews (summaries) in English/French. The study of the opinions of judges of other Supreme Administrative Courts is ensured efficiently by the electronic communications system Forum in which the judges and their assistants of the Department of Administrative Cases of our Supreme Court participate, as well.

V. Jonikans informs that while preparing to the colloquium of the Association of the Supreme Administrative Courts in 2008 the theme of which will be “On consequences arising from non-compliance of the final administrative decisions and court rulings in administrative cases with the laws of the European Community”, every Supreme Court of the member states received a home assignment to be fulfilled till this October. It covers a wide range of questions with the information and opinions to be studied on the raised problem. Supporting the activities of the Court of the European Community, the Assembly adopted a resolution addressed to the Council of Europe on the necessity to introduce amendments to the law documents as soon as possible what would allow to make the work of the Court of the European Community within the frame of procedure of the previous ruling more efficient.

The Assembly discussed also issues on visits of judges to perfect their knowledge and practice in the Supreme Administrative Courts of other countries, on the planned seminars, funding, as well as other issues related to the organization of work of the Association.

The status of the presiding institution of the Association of the State Councils and the Supreme Administrative Courts of the European Union is held by the State Council or the Supreme Administrative Court of one of the member states for a term of two years. In 2006, when the term of function of the Supreme Administrative Court of Germany as the presiding institution expired, the further leadership of the Association was taken over by the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland. The Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia is a member of the Association since 2004.
 

Information prepared by Division of Communications of the Supreme Court

Author: Rasma Zvejniece, Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 28652211