Meeting in Cologne with the European Union of Rechtspfleger

The European Union of Rechtspfleger (EUR) is the union of professional organisations of Rechtspfleger and comparable officials in Europe. Several non-European organisations joined the EUR as associated members, thus the Union has influence not only in Europe. Rechtspfleger are judicial officials to whom judicial tasks were transferred to be done by themselves in their own responsibility. They belong to the higher staff of the judicial organisation, the transfer of judicial tasks needs an at least three years lasting, highly qualified training. Judicial tasks have also been transferred to comparable officials to be done in their own responsibility, above this they act in judicial procedures beside the judge (Source: http://www.rechtspfleger.org).

Founded in 1967, EUR today consists of Rechtspfleger and similar associations in 16 European countries. It has been granted the consultative status to the Council of Europe in 1971 and is a permanent observer member of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), like the UIHJ. This organization has published a Green Paper in 2008 for a European Rechtspfleger, downloadable from its website.

The role of registrars is varied within the courts. They intervene in the administration and management of the courts while also performing duties of Jurisdictional nature in many areas.

As part of the efforts by UIHJ to turn to the representatives of international legal professionals organizations, Leo Netten wanted to meet his Rechtspfleger counterpart. The meeting took place in Cologne, in the presence of our colleague Walter Gietmann, president of the Association of Judicial Officers of Germany.

President Leo Netten presented the UIHJ to Thomas Kappl. He outlined the reasons for a rapprochement and cooperation between our two professions internationally. He expressed the ambition of the UIHJ to have a World Day of justice among the world or international days decreed by the UN. Chairman Kappl confirmed that he was sensitive and supportive of the initiatives of the UIHJ and its firm willingness to strengthen ties between our two organizations. Symbolically, the exchange of scientific works took place between the two men while the beginning of a potential friendship could be perceived between them. The Liber Amicorum in honor of Jacques Isnard, former president of the UIHJ, was presented to Thomas Kappl while the latter gave to Leo Netten a copy of the Green Paper for a European Rechtspfleger.

For more information on EUR:

Europäische Union Der Rechtspfleger

Therensienstrasse 148

D 80333 München

Germany

Tel: +49 (0) 89 69937 - 226

http://www.rechtspfleger.org