---

Highest courts’ dialogue ‘never more important’

Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell has chaired the opening session at the conference of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union.

The network was created in 2004 by the presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union.

The conference was held in Lemesos (Limassol), Cyprus (12 June), and hosted by the Supreme Court of Cyprus, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.

Ireland’s Chief Justice moderated the first session ‘Rule of Law: Challenges in the 21st Century’ with presentations delivered by:

• Dr Tatu Leppänen, President of Supreme Court of Finland,
• Dr Síofra O’Leary, Hauser/Remarque Fellow at NYU and former President of European Court of Human Rights,
• Mr Maciej Szpunar, First Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), and
• Richard Wagner, PC, Chief Justice of Canada.

The second working session ‘Protecting individuals’ rights in the digital sphere – the impact of the Digital Services Act,’ was moderated by Dr Danguolė Bublienė, President of the Supreme Court of Lithuania.

Dr Bublienė also delivered an introductory presentation alongside Dr Savvas S Papasavvas, vice-president of the CJEU.

Katerina Stamatiou, President of the Supreme Court of Cyprus, said that it was a great honour for the Supreme Court of Cyprus to host the conference.

Rule of law

“We are especially glad that this gathering brings together not only the members of our network, but also distinguished representatives of the European courts and of jurisdictions beyond the European Union that share the same fundamental values – the rule of law, judicial independence and the protection of individual rights,” she continued. 

“In an era of profound legal and technological change, the dialogue between our highest courts has never been more important, and we look forward to welcoming our colleagues to Cyprus in a spirit of friendship and common purpose.”

Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell, president of the Network, said the gathering was a valuable opportunity to meet and discuss issues of mutual concern.

Collegiality

“One of the great strengths of the network is that it facilitates open and informed dialogue between its members and enables us to learn from one another’s experience in a spirit of collegiality and mutual respect,” he said.

He added that the rule-of-law theme was of particular significance.

“I am particularly pleased that the discussion will benefit not only from the perspectives of members of the network, but also from contributions from the European Court of Human Rights, the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Supreme Court of Canada.

“The opportunity to consider these questions from different judicial perspectives will, I am sure, enrich the discussion,” he said, thanking President Stamatiou and to the Supreme Court of Cyprus for hosting.

In addition to the Supreme Judicial Courts of the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Britain have been admitted as associate members, and Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine participate as observers.