Kiri

The European Law Institute AISBL/IVZW | Reg No 0837 276 779

Rue Ducale 1 Hertogstraat – KVAB

Bruxelles 1000 Brussel – BELGIUM

ELI President and Vices

Schottenring 16 | 1010 Vienna | Austria

[email protected]

www.europeanlawinstitute.eu

P +43-1-4277-221-01

F +43-1-4277-9221

Vienna, 26 May 2025

Dear Minister Pakosta

We have a great pleasure of extending a formal invitation to you to participate in the invitation-only European

Law Institute (ELI) High Level Forum on Democracy and Judicial Independence, which will take place online on

25 June 2025 from 12:00 to 14:00 CET, or to nominate a representative of the Ministry of Justice of Estonia to

attend.

The High Level Forum, featuring a keynote speech by EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law

and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, will offer an opportunity to discuss ELI’s recently published Charter

of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy, available here, and the ELI-Mount Scopus

European Standards of Judicial Independence, available here.

The Forum is convened in response to the growing challenges to democracy and the independence of the judiciary.

The event provides a timely opportunity to address these urgent concerns, offering a space for expert

deliberations on the fundamental principles underpinning democratic governance and judicial autonomy.

Participants will include European Ministers of Justice, Presidents of Supreme and Constitutional Courts,

international organisations, civil society representatives and other key stakeholders. By bringing together experts,

policymakers, and international institutions, the forum aims to shape both national and regional legal and policy

frameworks, ensuring the protection and strengthening of judicial independence and democratic values.

We would be greatly honoured if you were to accept our invitation for the Ministry of Justice of Estonia to be

involved in the above event. We look forward to hearing from you by 2 June 2025. The ELI Secretariat team will

be in touch, should you be available, with more detailed arrangements.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to ELI’s Annual Conference, taking place from 21–24

September 2025 (more here). The event will focus, inter alia, on the pressing issues at the intersection of the

environment and fundamental rights. We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us for what promises to be

an engaging forum for actionable insights on legal reform and a valuable platform for knowledge-sharing on

pressing legal and policy issues.

Yours sincerely

Prof Dr Pascal Pichonnaz Anne Birgitte Gammeljord Sir Geoffrey Vos

ELI President ELI First Vice President ELI Second Vice President

The European Law Institute AISBL/IVZW | Reg No 0837 276 779

Rue Ducale 1 Hertogstraat – KVAB

Bruxelles 1000 Brussel – BELGIUM

ELI Charter and Standards

• ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy

The ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy defines and articulates

the constitutional principles that form the backbone of a European liberal democratic state. It serves as a

reference point for legislatures, courts, civil society, and public authorities, offering clear guidance on what

constitutes a genuine democracy grounded in the rule of law and fundamental rights. This Charter, which is

set out in 36 Principles, is particularly significant in the current climate, where democratic backsliding

threatens core values and governance structures. By providing a comprehensive framework covering

essential principles – ranging from judicial independence and checks and balances to dignity, equality, and

constitutional integrity – the Charter equips decision-makers with a solid foundation for legislative and

constitutional reforms. It is a forward-looking document that also addresses contemporary challenges such

as political extremism, media manipulation, and emerging issues like AI governance and sustainability.

• ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence

The ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence follow from the broader theme laid out

in the ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy, but they focus on a

more specific and critical aspect of democratic governance: the independence of the judiciary. The Standards

respond directly to increasing political interference and government overreach affecting the judiciary.

Judicial independence is not merely a principle; it is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, ensuring

fair trials, safeguarding human rights, and maintaining public trust in legal institutions. Developed through

extensive consultation with judges, legal scholars, and key stakeholders, these 38 Standards offer a robust

framework for assessing and protecting judicial independence across diverse legal systems in Europe. They

complement existing international instruments, adapting them to the unique features of European judiciaries

and career-based judicial systems.

The European Law Institute AISBL/IVZW | Reg No 0837 276 779

Rue Ducale 1 Hertogstraat – KVAB

Bruxelles 1000 Brussel – BELGIUM

ELI President and Vices

Schottenring 16 | 1010 Vienna | Austria

[email protected]

www.europeanlawinstitute.eu

P +43-1-4277-221-01

F +43-1-4277-9221

Vienna, 26 May 2025

Dear Minister Pakosta

We have a great pleasure of extending a formal invitation to you to participate in the invitation-only European

Law Institute (ELI) High Level Forum on Democracy and Judicial Independence, which will take place online on

25 June 2025 from 12:00 to 14:00 CET, or to nominate a representative of the Ministry of Justice of Estonia to

attend.

The High Level Forum, featuring a keynote speech by EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law

and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, will offer an opportunity to discuss ELI’s recently published Charter

of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy, available here, and the ELI-Mount Scopus

European Standards of Judicial Independence, available here.

The Forum is convened in response to the growing challenges to democracy and the independence of the judiciary.

The event provides a timely opportunity to address these urgent concerns, offering a space for expert

deliberations on the fundamental principles underpinning democratic governance and judicial autonomy.

Participants will include European Ministers of Justice, Presidents of Supreme and Constitutional Courts,

international organisations, civil society representatives and other key stakeholders. By bringing together experts,

policymakers, and international institutions, the forum aims to shape both national and regional legal and policy

frameworks, ensuring the protection and strengthening of judicial independence and democratic values.

We would be greatly honoured if you were to accept our invitation for the Ministry of Justice of Estonia to be

involved in the above event. We look forward to hearing from you by 2 June 2025. The ELI Secretariat team will

be in touch, should you be available, with more detailed arrangements.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to ELI’s Annual Conference, taking place from 21–24

September 2025 (more here). The event will focus, inter alia, on the pressing issues at the intersection of the

environment and fundamental rights. We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us for what promises to be

an engaging forum for actionable insights on legal reform and a valuable platform for knowledge-sharing on

pressing legal and policy issues.

Yours sincerely

Prof Dr Pascal Pichonnaz Anne Birgitte Gammeljord Sir Geoffrey Vos

ELI President ELI First Vice President ELI Second Vice President

The European Law Institute AISBL/IVZW | Reg No 0837 276 779

Rue Ducale 1 Hertogstraat – KVAB

Bruxelles 1000 Brussel – BELGIUM

ELI Charter and Standards

• ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy

The ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy defines and articulates

the constitutional principles that form the backbone of a European liberal democratic state. It serves as a

reference point for legislatures, courts, civil society, and public authorities, offering clear guidance on what

constitutes a genuine democracy grounded in the rule of law and fundamental rights. This Charter, which is

set out in 36 Principles, is particularly significant in the current climate, where democratic backsliding

threatens core values and governance structures. By providing a comprehensive framework covering

essential principles – ranging from judicial independence and checks and balances to dignity, equality, and

constitutional integrity – the Charter equips decision-makers with a solid foundation for legislative and

constitutional reforms. It is a forward-looking document that also addresses contemporary challenges such

as political extremism, media manipulation, and emerging issues like AI governance and sustainability.

• ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence

The ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence follow from the broader theme laid out

in the ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy, but they focus on a

more specific and critical aspect of democratic governance: the independence of the judiciary. The Standards

respond directly to increasing political interference and government overreach affecting the judiciary.

Judicial independence is not merely a principle; it is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, ensuring

fair trials, safeguarding human rights, and maintaining public trust in legal institutions. Developed through

extensive consultation with judges, legal scholars, and key stakeholders, these 38 Standards offer a robust

framework for assessing and protecting judicial independence across diverse legal systems in Europe. They

complement existing international instruments, adapting them to the unique features of European judiciaries

and career-based judicial systems.