The General Assembly of the Association of the Councils of State and Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions of the European Union (ACA-Europe) has approved the overarching theme of the forthcoming Baltic States Presidency: safeguarding the European Union’s common values in the face of internal and external challenges confronting administrative courts. The Presidency for the period 2027–2029 will be jointly held by the Supreme Court of Latvia, the Supreme Court of Estonia, and the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania.

At the Board Meeting and the General Assembly of ACA-Europe held in Rhodes, representatives of the Supreme Court of Latvia – Anita Kovaļevska, Chair of the Senate Department of Administrative Cases, and Senator Jānis Pleps – presented the central theme of the Baltic States Presidency, the structure of the planned events, and the cooperation partners involved in their organisation. Individual seminars within the Presidency framework will be hosted by the Council of State of France, the Supreme Administrative Court of Slovakia, and the Supreme Administrative Court of Portugal. Representatives of the partner institutions also provided updates on preparations and forthcoming activities.

The common theme running through all Presidency events will be the protection of the European Union’s shared values – democracy, the rule of law, human rights, human dignity, and related principles – as administrative courts are facing various threats to these values. The Presidency will build on the discussions initiated during the Greek Presidency (2025–2027), facilitating a comprehensive review of national practices and an exchange of experience regarding contemporary challenges.

A notable achievement of the Greek Presidency has been the accession of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to ACA-Europe as an observer. Following the Court’s positive response to the invitation, both the Board and the General Assembly of ACA-Europe endorsed its accession. The ECtHR’s participation will strengthen the exchange of case-law expertise, enhance judicial dialogue at the European level in the field of fundamental rights protection, and promote the development of common methodological approaches among national supreme administrative courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

The Board Meeting and General Assembly of ACA-Europe also approved reports on the previous year’s budget, adopted work plans for the coming period, and endorsed future cooperation with other European institutions. Support was reaffirmed for the Supreme Court of Ukraine in its efforts to advance Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, while at war with Russia.

In addition, a seminar organised by the Greek Council of State in cooperation with ACA-Europe explored emerging trends in the organisation and functioning of public administration and administrative justice. Discussions focused on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in administrative proceedings, with particular attention given to the use of international arbitration for resolving disputes under European Union and international law.

ACA-Europe brings together the Court of Justice of the European Union and the councils of state and supreme administrative courts of all European Union Member States. The Supreme Court of Latvia has been a member of the association since 2004.

 

Information prepared by

Rasma Zvejniece, Head of the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: +371 67020396, +371 28652211

Photo: ACA-Europe