In anticipation of the 2024 European Parliament elections and the next European Commission, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) issued a manifesto urging EU institutions to uphold and enforce a fair and effective judicial system grounded in justice, fundamental rights, and the rule of law. Launched on 28 March 2024, the manifesto emphasizes the critical role of the independent legal profession in maintaining these values and calls for specific actions to ensure adherence to these principles. The CCBE's key recommendations for future EU policy include the following:

• Resource allocation: Ensure that Member States allocate sufficient financial and human resources to their judicial systems and provide ample EU funding to support the development of a cohesive European justice area. This includes guaranteeing effective cross-border judicial cooperation and accessible legal aid systems.
• Professional training: Implement a funding mechanism to support large-scale, structured training programmes for legal professionals across the EU, enhancing their ability to uphold justice and the rule of law.
• Procedural safeguards: Ensure the proper implementation of existing procedural safeguards in criminal matters and introduce new ones to boost confidence in the mutual recognition of criminal justice measures across Member States.
• Legislative standards: Advocate for EU legislation that positively impacts the administration of justice and promotes annual dialogues among all justice system stakeholders in order to continuously address and improve issues affecting the rule of law.

CCBE President Pierre-Dominique Schupp reiterated the need for continuous efforts to preserve and enhance justice in Europe, emphasizing the importance of political commitment to these foundational principles.

The CCBE represents over one million European lawyers through its member bars in 46 countries, positioning it as a key advocate for the legal profession at the European level.