Nino Tsereteli
@ninotsereteli.bsky.social
PhD in Law (UiO), Research Officer at Democracy Reporting International. Rule of Law enthusiast from Georgia, now based in Berlin. Learning German and mastering patience with bureaucracy. Focused on courts, civic space, strategies for resisting autocracy.
More to come on the gap between expectations and what the Commission delivered. END.
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
More to come on the gap between expectations and what the Commission delivered. END.
Still missing: a systemic take on CJEU ruling compliance.
Mentions are sporadic—maybe a dozen across chapters—and rarely in recommendations.
If (non)-compliance with CJEU is a rule of law issue (it is), then it is to be assessed systematically for all states. 8/
Mentions are sporadic—maybe a dozen across chapters—and rarely in recommendations.
If (non)-compliance with CJEU is a rule of law issue (it is), then it is to be assessed systematically for all states. 8/
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Still missing: a systemic take on CJEU ruling compliance.
Mentions are sporadic—maybe a dozen across chapters—and rarely in recommendations.
If (non)-compliance with CJEU is a rule of law issue (it is), then it is to be assessed systematically for all states. 8/
Mentions are sporadic—maybe a dozen across chapters—and rarely in recommendations.
If (non)-compliance with CJEU is a rule of law issue (it is), then it is to be assessed systematically for all states. 8/
Another issue: enforcement. What happens when states just ignore recommendations year after year? Will the Commission properly follow up on persistent non-compliance? At this point, the report does not seem to track the length of time the recommendation has been pending compliance either. 7/
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Another issue: enforcement. What happens when states just ignore recommendations year after year? Will the Commission properly follow up on persistent non-compliance? At this point, the report does not seem to track the length of time the recommendation has been pending compliance either. 7/
But here’s the thing: compliance does not equate to real rule of law progress. It all depends on what the Commission chooses to focus on. Some recommendations hit at systemic issues, but not all such issues are reflected in recommendations. 6/
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
But here’s the thing: compliance does not equate to real rule of law progress. It all depends on what the Commission chooses to focus on. Some recommendations hit at systemic issues, but not all such issues are reflected in recommendations. 6/
Full compliance with recommendations? Still rare.
🔹 Czechia: fully implemented 2 out of 6, partially a third
🔹 Estonia: 1 out of 3
🔹 Slovenia: 3 out of 6
🔹 Finland & Luxembourg: 1 each. 5/
🔹 Czechia: fully implemented 2 out of 6, partially a third
🔹 Estonia: 1 out of 3
🔹 Slovenia: 3 out of 6
🔹 Finland & Luxembourg: 1 each. 5/
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Full compliance with recommendations? Still rare.
🔹 Czechia: fully implemented 2 out of 6, partially a third
🔹 Estonia: 1 out of 3
🔹 Slovenia: 3 out of 6
🔹 Finland & Luxembourg: 1 each. 5/
🔹 Czechia: fully implemented 2 out of 6, partially a third
🔹 Estonia: 1 out of 3
🔹 Slovenia: 3 out of 6
🔹 Finland & Luxembourg: 1 each. 5/
Some countries are stuck in the “almost there” zone. They show some/significant progress on most recommendations but fall short of full implementation. Poland is one example, but the list is long. Yes, reform takes time. But it is problematic if "almost there" becomes the default year after year. 4/
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Some countries are stuck in the “almost there” zone. They show some/significant progress on most recommendations but fall short of full implementation. Poland is one example, but the list is long. Yes, reform takes time. But it is problematic if "almost there" becomes the default year after year. 4/
Hungary has made NO PROGRESS with 7 out of 8 recommendations; Bulgaria – 4 out of 6, Slovakia – 5 out of 7, Italy – 3 out of 6, Romania and Malta – 3 out of 7. 3/
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Hungary has made NO PROGRESS with 7 out of 8 recommendations; Bulgaria – 4 out of 6, Slovakia – 5 out of 7, Italy – 3 out of 6, Romania and Malta – 3 out of 7. 3/
Only 57% of recommendations from 2024 were fully or partially implemented. This includes: 18% with significant progress or full compliance (note: full compliance share is even smaller),39% with some (vague) progress. Of the remaining 43%: 14% showed limited progress, 29% - no progress at all. 2/
July 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Only 57% of recommendations from 2024 were fully or partially implemented. This includes: 18% with significant progress or full compliance (note: full compliance share is even smaller),39% with some (vague) progress. Of the remaining 43%: 14% showed limited progress, 29% - no progress at all. 2/
Bottom line: yes, the Spanish judiciary needs reform. But a rushed, one-sided change that risks judicial independence and lacks democratic consensus does more harm than good. What is needed is an open, inclusive, serious debate. 14/ END
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Bottom line: yes, the Spanish judiciary needs reform. But a rushed, one-sided change that risks judicial independence and lacks democratic consensus does more harm than good. What is needed is an open, inclusive, serious debate. 14/ END
OSCE has urged that judges choose their peers for the council. However, this raises a larger question: can we reduce political control without creating new concentrations of judicial power that could also be potentially abused? 13/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
OSCE has urged that judges choose their peers for the council. However, this raises a larger question: can we reduce political control without creating new concentrations of judicial power that could also be potentially abused? 13/
It is not the first time Spanish judiciary has made headlines. June 2024's deal unblocked appointments to the judicial council after a 5-year deadlock, with promises to reduce political influence by reforming the process of appointing its members. But this reform is still in development. 12/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
It is not the first time Spanish judiciary has made headlines. June 2024's deal unblocked appointments to the judicial council after a 5-year deadlock, with promises to reduce political influence by reforming the process of appointing its members. But this reform is still in development. 12/
The reform shifts criminal investigations to prosecutors, who report to a politically appointed Attorney General with broad powers. Without real independence, this opens the door to political interference. 11/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
The reform shifts criminal investigations to prosecutors, who report to a politically appointed Attorney General with broad powers. Without real independence, this opens the door to political interference. 11/
Another red flag: Centralising judicial training under the MoJ raises alarm bells about potential influence on future judges. 10/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Another red flag: Centralising judicial training under the MoJ raises alarm bells about potential influence on future judges. 10/
Abuse of temporary contracts is real, but the solution is not bypassing competitive exams and weakening meritocracy. Reform also proposes simplified entry for experienced lawyers. Fair move or a shortcut introducing political bias? 9/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Abuse of temporary contracts is real, but the solution is not bypassing competitive exams and weakening meritocracy. Reform also proposes simplified entry for experienced lawyers. Fair move or a shortcut introducing political bias? 9/
A significant controversy surrounds the plan to grant ~1,000 substitute judges permanent status without undergoing the standard merit-based examination. Critics, such as @HayDerecho, argue that this undermines judicial quality and independence. 8/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
A significant controversy surrounds the plan to grant ~1,000 substitute judges permanent status without undergoing the standard merit-based examination. Critics, such as @HayDerecho, argue that this undermines judicial quality and independence. 8/
There are positive elements: Reform promotes reasoning over memorisation in exams and offers scholarships to broaden access. However, many fear that executive power is creeping into judicial selection and training. 7/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
There are positive elements: Reform promotes reasoning over memorisation in exams and offers scholarships to broaden access. However, many fear that executive power is creeping into judicial selection and training. 7/
That said, the Spanish judiciary isn't perfect. Access remains unequal — for example, the informal prep system for judicial exams (coaching by sitting judges) limits access and shapes judicial culture in ways that aren't always ideal. 6/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
That said, the Spanish judiciary isn't perfect. Access remains unequal — for example, the informal prep system for judicial exams (coaching by sitting judges) limits access and shapes judicial culture in ways that aren't always ideal. 6/
Judges might not have the right to strike, but they do have the right to mobilise, for example, through associations to defend their independence and weigh in on judicial reforms that shape their profession. 5/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Judges might not have the right to strike, but they do have the right to mobilise, for example, through associations to defend their independence and weigh in on judicial reforms that shape their profession. 5/
You cannot spend years attacking the judiciary as a conservative caste and then expect judges to embrace reform quietly. Real reform demands a broad consensus, calm but rigorous debate, and giving judges a say. That hasn't happened. 4/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
You cannot spend years attacking the judiciary as a conservative caste and then expect judges to embrace reform quietly. Real reform demands a broad consensus, calm but rigorous debate, and giving judges a say. That hasn't happened. 4/
Some critics see the need for reform, but flag risks in the details, while others (mainly judges) argue that the system works fine as it is. 3/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Some critics see the need for reform, but flag risks in the details, while others (mainly judges) argue that the system works fine as it is. 3/
Is this necessary reform or dangerous politicisation? The EU has strongly criticised Poland and Hungary over judicial independence. Spain's proposals deserve the same scrutiny. Are they truly different — or do they raise similar concerns? If not, it risks accusations of double standards. 2/
July 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Is this necessary reform or dangerous politicisation? The EU has strongly criticised Poland and Hungary over judicial independence. Spain's proposals deserve the same scrutiny. Are they truly different — or do they raise similar concerns? If not, it risks accusations of double standards. 2/