A first update, but it is still largely insufficient. This is the observation made for France by the 2024 report of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (Cepej). Published every two years, this document, which compares the means of justice and their operation in 44 States of the Council of Europe, was published on October 16. Its data is for the year 2022. This is, therefore, the first edition that includes post-crisis data linked to Covid-19.
“All judicial systems in Europe faced many challenges in 2020 (…) which affected its operation, which had an impact on many of the data presented in this report »Cepej warns. It is therefore better to compare the 2022 data with the data before 2020. Likewise, it is advisable to compare the French situation with countries of equivalent wealth and development.
According to the study, France spends 77.20 euros per year and per inhabitant to finance its judicial system (excluding prisons, judicial protection of youth and the functioning of the ministry), where the European average is 74.80 euros. In 2014 it rose to 65.60 euros. But, by way of comparison, Germany spends almost twice as much on justice, with 136.10 euros per inhabitant; Italy, 100.60 euros; Spain, 96.80 euros, and Belgium, 102.50 euros. And if we look at what the budget represents as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP), France is below the median (0.20% compared to 0.28%), as is Belgium (0.22% of the GDP). Unlike Germany (0.30%), Italy (0.31%), Spain (0.34%).
The figures for France reflect the first effects of the budgetary efforts achieved, in particular, by Eric Dupond-Moretti – appointed Keeper of the Seals in 2020, he left office at the end of September –, who had achieved a budget increase in his orientation and development. justice programming, adopted at the end of 2023. However, the objectives of this text, which foreseen, between now and 2027, 10,000 hiring in total, including 1,500 magistrates and 1,500 secretaries, the construction of new penitentiary places and the renovation of many. The courts, but also digital modernization, are undermined by the savings planned to reduce the country’s debt.
According to the first version of the budget presented at the beginning of October, the blow to justice could amount to nearly 500 million euros. Didier Migaud, the new Minister of Justice, has obtained promises of upward adjustments. However, it is not certain that this will completely cover the shortfall.
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