The development of administrative justice in Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) is a key factor of the sustainable development of the Rule of law. in this region, marked by its distinct legal post-Soviet heritage.

Three of these countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine) have created administrative courts and administrative courts of appeals in the 21st century, whereas two others (Georgia and Moldova) foster specialisation of administrative judges through dedicated administrative chambers or panels within each tier of general courts.

In order to adress this crucial issue, ODIHR organised a Conference on Rule of Law and Independence of Administrative Justice on 29-30 October 2025 in Warsaw. 

Bringing together judges, legal experts, and civil society representatives from across the OSCE region, the Conference provided a platform to discuss current challenges and good practices in safeguarding judicial independence and strengthening the rule of law, with a particular focus on the role of administrative justice in protecting fundamental rights.

A substantial part of the seminar was dedicated to practiacal exchanges on administrative justice experience in the OSCE region.

Invited at the conference as a speaker, AEAJ president Sylvain Mérenne ensured the representation of European administrative judges as peers of their Eastern Partnership colleagues.

Pawel Gronski, vice-president of the administrative court of Warsaw and co-chair of the AEAJ Independence and Administrative Justice WG, moderated the panel on the role of administrative justice in ensuring protection of civil and political rights of the citizens as a safeguard against rule of law backsliding.

ODIHR LinkedIn post on this event is available here.