Northern countries seminar in Helsinki from 7 to 9 September 2005

Strong Presence of judicial authorities and UIHJ
This event, organised by the National chamber of judicial officers of Finland, is in the line of the seminars that, since 1999, take place in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, with a growing success. From 7 to 9 September 2005, judicial officers from Northern countries convened to exchange ideas and work together, through workshops.
In total, 90 judicial officers took part in the Helsinki seminar. Four colleagues from Estonia and Latvia also participated. The seminar also had the privilege to greet UIHJ, with Leo Netten, its first vice-president, and Roger Dujardin, its vice-president.
The seminar was opened by a representatives of the Ministry of Justice. Then, several high representatives of the authorities talked about the future reorganisation of the activity of enforcement in the Scandinavian countries and about the effects of globalisation on the profession.

Themes linked to the European actuality
The workshops dealt with, amongst other subjects, the problems concerning the situation and the insolvency of citizens living in one country and working in another. It was about examining the conditions of enforcement in each country and ways of finding means to harmonize enforcement in the Scandinavian countries.
The differences between Northern States as regards to the activities of enforcement and the contribution to the fight against fraud and infringement of economic aspect in a modern society were also discussed.
Another theme also brought questions: the functioning of bankruptcy, the Northern convention and the European regulation on insolvency.
The summary procedure of order for payment of the Northern countries and the futures effects of the European regulation of the European enforceable title and other European regulations to come also gave rise to a great interest, however mixed with concern. To apply these regulations, an international cooperation is indispensable.

Towards the creation of Euroex and Interex?
The participants to the seminar also agreed that an exchange of information between judicial officers, on an international level, about debtors, their assets and location, is necessary for a fast and efficient enforcement. A European or worldwide entity should be created, like the Police already established with Europol or Interpol, or like the prosecutors. As regards enforcement, an equivalent should be set: “Euroex” or “Interex”.
In the end, the debates were acute and it was also question about harmonising the profession and the importance of a professional training. The advantages and disadvantages of a liberal profession - which is the most common form of practise in Europe - compared to the likes of a civil servant one, were as well deeply discussed, specially with respect to over ten centuries of civil servant judicial officers in the Scandinavian countries.

Rendez-vous in Stockholm
Everyone will remember those three days spent together in this beautiful capital of Finland under a radiant sun and a summer temperature. The participants left Helsinki with new ideas, new points of views and new contacts. It was proposed to set up twining to uplift contacts between colleagues. Now the baton is left in the hands of Sweden. No one doubts that the next seminar, which should take place in Stockholm, will witness the reinforcement of the unity of judicial officers of the Scandinavian countries.