On the occasion of the 48th European Presidents’ Conference on 21 February 2020 in Vienna, representatives from over 50 bar associations adopted a resolution on the rule of law and the independence of justice. European Institutions and national authorities are urged to do the following:

• Make full use of the tools available in order to safeguard and restore the independence of the judiciary and the administration of justice in Europe;
• Maintain the strict autonomy and independence of Bars and the legal professions, including the judiciary, especially as regards disciplinary proceedings.

In particular, the resolution recommends using expedited infringement procedures and filing applications for interim measures before the CJEU.

The resolution also includes a call to a “March of European Robes” between 24 and 26 June 2020 in Brussels in order to voice, in the heart of Europe, the lawyers’ commitment to the rule of law, the separation of powers, an independent judiciary, and fundamental rights.