Slovakia debates local issues on access to justice

From Ivana Figuli, Via Iuris part of Justice and Environment network, Slovakia

Slovakian organisation Via Iuris held its first national workshop about access to justice in environmental matters on February 22nd in Bratislava. An opportunity to raise local barriers and debate with professionals.

Fourteen people attended this meeting, which brought together the most relevant professionals on access to justice in the country.

Recognized expert on environmental law, the Supreme Court’s judge Miroslav Gavalec attended the workshop along with Supreme Court judge Marián Trenčan.

Professor Soňa Košičiarová, academic expert in the field and author of numerous publications and handbooks also participated together with representatives from ministries and practicing lawyers.

This workshop was an opportunity for Via Iuris to present the A2J EARL project and get feedbacks from the attendees.

Via Iuris brought to the forum series of issues considered as being problematic for an effective access to justice for the public in environmental matters.

Experts around the table expressed their opinions on whether they perceive the same problems or if they identified some other issues to be analysed and to address in practice.

The debate focused on the New Code of Administrative Court Procedure and newly introduced concept of "interested public" and obstacles this new norm could bring for effective access to Justice in environmental affairs for interested public and other parties to proceedings.

Participants expressed their willingness to receive information on legal news in this topic and be involved in further debates and activities of the project.

This meeting was organised in the framework of the A2J EARL project, funded by the European Commission LIFE programme.