2024 Activities
Initial Training
From the start of their professional careers, judges and prosecutors in EU Member States apply EU law and often work together with peers from other countries on cross-border cases. EJTN helps them develop these skills through two initial training initiatives: the AIAKOS Programme and the THEMIS Competition.
AIAKOS Programme
Overview
The AIAKOS Programme serves as a distinctive exchange platform designed to enable future and early-career judges and prosecutors to gain insights into diverse national judicial systems, cultivate mutual trust, and enhance awareness of the European dimension inherent in their work. Conducted biannually in May and November, the programme facilitates five-day exchanges at judicial institutions across EU Member States, during which participants observe court proceedings and engage in discussions on EU law, digitalisation, ethics, and judicial cooperation.
Achievements in 2025
The 2025 edition of the AIAKOS Programme demonstrated the activity’s continued strength, with 42 exchanges delivered across 27 judicial institutions in 24 EU Member States and a total of 1,289 participants engaged. In 2025, greater emphasis was placed on increasing the participation rate. To support this goal, EJTN completed a comprehensive mapping exercise of newly appointed judicial trainees across EU Member States, both for 2025 and subsequent years, to evaluate the feasibility of achieving universal trainee participation.
The training offer in the programme was enriched through parallel online sessions covering topics such as digitalisation, judgecraft, judicial ethics, and courtroom communication, thereby improving accessibility and inclusivity. Host institutions further enhanced the programme experience through mock trials, interactive workshops, and sessions on digital justice tools. Participants consistently praised the programme’s transformative impact, noting a deeper understanding of cross-border judicial systems and the establishment of invaluable professional networks.
“EJTN completed a comprehensive mapping exercise of newly appointed judicial trainees across EU Member States, both for 2025 and subsequent years, to evaluate the feasibility of achieving universal trainee participation.”
Related content
THEMIS Competition
Overview
The THEMIS Competition convenes future judges and prosecutors from EU Member States and third countries to debate critical legal topics, draft papers, deliver presentations, and participate in discussions with peers and a distinguished jury. The competition consists of four semi-finals, each centred on a distinct theme: criminal procedures, family or administrative law, civil procedures, and judicial ethics. Two winning teams from each semi-final progress to the Grand Final, with the competition designed to foster mutual trust and strengthen knowledge of European and international legal frameworks.
“In 2024, the THEMIS Competition celebrated its 15th anniversary, showcasing the competition’s impact on future judicial expertise.”
Achievements in 2025
The 2025 edition of the THEMIS Competition marked two significant milestones.
Firstly, for the first time, the Grand Final of the competition was hosted at the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. The competition attracted 38 teams from 16 countries, including 12 EU Member States, three Western Balkans countries, and Moldova. This underscores the activity’s extensive European reach and impact. Semi-finals were held in Floriana, Naples, Lisbon, and Vilnius, followed by the Grand Final in Luxembourg, where Team Romania I emerged victorious, and teams France I and Romania II secured second and third positions respectively.
Secondly, the latest THEMIS Annual Journal, marking the competition’s 15th edition, was published for the first time by an external publishing house, Anthemis. It featured a foreword by the CJEU President, Koen Lenaerts and a contribution from the previous year’s winning team and jury. In addition, the study visit awarded to the 2024 THEMIS competition winners took place at the CJEU, underlining the strong partnership between EJTN and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
“The 2025 edition of the THEMIS Competition marked two significant milestones: a Grand Final held at the CJEU and the THEMIS Annual Journal published by an external publishing house.”
