The Conference provided a broad forum for exchanging information and ideas on recent developments, outstanding challenges and lessons learned on judicial reform processes in Council of Europe member states and for sharing information on on-going judicial reform processes in the Eastern Partnership countries.

Representative from ministries of justice, judiciaries, judicial self-governing bodies, bar associations from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine were joined by representatives of relevant Council of Europe bodies Europe (European Committee on Legal Co-operation - CDCJ, Consultative Council of European Judges - CCJE, Commission for the Efficiency of Justice - CEPEJ, Consultative Council of European Prosecutors – CCPE), of the EU and of other Council of Europe member states. Permanent missions of Eastern Partnership countries were also invited.

Presentations and discussions focused on exchanging experiences on judicial reform across Europe, the main challenges faced, the strategies adopted and the factors for success. Areas of particular relevance in the national judicial reform processes in the Eastern Partnership countries for possible examination in the framework of the project were identified. These included: issues related to independence, ethics, disciplinary liability, selection, evaluation, promotion and immunity of judges; the role of self-governing bodies and of higher courts; how to ensure inclusive reform processes, adequate access to justice, efficient case allocation and appropriate use of information technology.