2025 Highlights
The year 2025 was a very special milestone for the European Judicial Training Network. It marked 25 years of contributing to the creation of a strong Europe of Justice and delivering high-level judicial training activities across Europe.
EJTN at 25 celebrated throughout the year
In 2025, EJTN marked its 25th anniversary with celebrations held at key moments throughout the year, including a special anniversary event in Bordeaux, the birthplace of the Network. Partners such as the CJEU, Eurojust, the EPPO and the European Court of Human Rights joined the festivities, underlining EJTN’s strong institutional ties and broad range of expertise.
The anniversary year offered an opportunity to highlight EJTN’s commitment to high-quality judicial training and cross-border cooperation, while reaffirming its vision for the future: shaping a future of justice that is increasingly digital, innovative and resilient.
The 2025 EJTN General Assembly elected key roles
The EJTN General Assembly, held in Gdańsk, Poland, played a central role in shaping the Network’s governance through the election of key leadership positions, including the Secretary General, members of the Steering Committee and the Conveners of the Working Groups.
These elections provided a solid foundation for advancing cooperation across the organisation’s administrative bodies. Delegates and high-level guests also discussed the challenges and opportunities facing today’s justice systems and debated EJTN’s strategic goals and objectives for the 2028–2034 period.
2025 TNA shaped the future of judicial training
The 2025 EJTN Training Needs Assessment (TNA) brought together representatives of the European Commission, EJTN’s strategic partners and Conveners of Working Groups to identify judicial training priorities for 2026 and beyond. Discussions highlighted core themes such as the Rule of Law, human rights, increased cooperation and the digital transformation of justice, including training on AI tools and e-learning platforms.
The TNA discussions also took place in the context of the 25th anniversary of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, reinforcing the relevance of fundamental rights as a cornerstone of judicial training. Workshops explored the integration of digital skills into training and the alignment of activities with emerging EU legal priorities.
The outcomes of the TNA fed directly into the development of the 2026 EJTN Catalogue of Training Activities, launched in October 2025, and informed EJTN’s next multiannual strategic plan, further discussed at the 2025 General Assembly and Conference of Directors.
First EJTN Digital Ambassadors graduate as agents of digital change
In 2025, EJTN launched a pioneering initiative that resulted in the graduation of 132 Digital Ambassadors from 21 EU Member States. This milestone achievement advanced the digital transformation of justice by equipping participants with practical skills in digital tools, innovative methodologies and peer learning.
Through a series of webinars, hybrid workshops and collaborative exercises, the EJTN Digital Ambassadors were prepared to drive change within their national institutions, creating a multiplier effect across Europe. The initiative reflects EJTN’s strong commitment to innovation, cross-border cooperation, and preparing justice practitioners for an increasingly digital and interconnected legal environment.
The 2025 THEMIS Competition reached new heights in partnership with the CJEU
The 2025 THEMIS Competition achieved a major milestone as the competition’s Grand Final was hosted for the first time at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), reinforcing the competition’s European dimension and prestige. The competition, held across four semi-finals and the grand final, brought together 38 teams from 16 countries, composed of highly motivated young judges and prosecutors at the start of their careers.
This year’s edition also highlighted the 25th anniversary of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as the legal question posed to the finalists focused specifically on the Charter. The winning team came from Romania, followed by a team from France and another Romanian team on second and third place. In connection with the final, EJTN also launched the special THEMIS Annual Journal marking the competition’s 15th edition.
The EJTN Exchange Programme turned 20 years
The EJTN Exchange Programme celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, marking two decades of promoting mutual trust, professional exchange, and cooperation between European justice practitioners. It was in 2005 that the European Parliament called for the creation of exchange activities for justice practitioners, which opened a new chapter in cross-border judicial cooperation within the EU.
Over two decades, the Exchange Programme has grown into a cornerstone of European judicial training, having welcomed a total of more than 30,000 justice practitioners who have wanted to engage with peers from across Europe and deepen their understanding of the EU law. To mark these 20 years, a special compendium featuring best practices identified by exchange participants was launched.
Fundamental rights remained a key EJTN priority
EJTN’s 25th anniversary year coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, making the year a timely opportunity to highlight the central role of fundamental rights in EJTN’s mission and daily work.
Training activities across portfolios addressed core EU values and promoted awareness and the practical application of these principles among justice practitioners. A special communication campaign, featuring contributions from high-level participants such as European Commissioner Michael McGrath, further reinforced the importance of fundamental rights in judicial practice.
Above are just a few of the year’s key highlights – read a longer review here, explore the 2025 news articles, sign up to the monthly EJTN newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest from EJTN.