We are recognized by all institutions at all levels, European, African or global, as the natural partner to turn to. For 60 years now, our huge advantage over other legal professionals often fragmented between their different entities is the opportunity to speak with one voice, yours. We develop and send the same message whether in Africa, Europe - not only in the European Union but in the wider Europe of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe - in North-, Central- or South-America or Asia.

 

This unique strength is irreplaceable. It allows us to be recognized everywhere.

 

It is towards the UIHJ that turns the Hague Conference on Private International Law as regards the service convention. We even take part as partner with the Hague Convention in a i-Support project.

 

And as you could hear yesterday we will set up a working group together with the Hague Conference to develop a protocol and standards for the electronic transmission of documents regarding art. 10b of the Service Convention.

 

It is towards the UIHJ that turns the Council of Europe through its numerous missions in its member states. It is towards the UIHJ that the Council of Europe turns when it decides to create a working group on enforcement.  It is towards the UIHJ that the European Commission turns when creating a working group to develop the European bank attachment order. It is naturally to the UIHJ that the European Commission turns when it plans to incorporate legal professions in the European Judicial Network and as regards its Justice Forum.

 

It is towards the UIHJ that turns the European Consilium to create a directory of judicial officers for its e-Justice portal. It is towards the UIHJ that the European Union turns for its great project on training. It is towards the UIHJ that the European Law Institute turns, when it asked us to be a founding member at the time of its recent creation, one year ago now. It is towards the UIHJ that the UNCITRAL (the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) turns when it asked us to become observer member.

 

And last but not least it is towards the UIHJ that turns the World Bank. This institution considered that economic development cannot be achieved without relying on the cornerstone of judicial institutions that are powerful and strong. As an answer to the need of the international community for a forum to exchange permanent and global knowledge, the World Bank has established the Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development. An electronic platform for information and communication will serve as a way of exchange. And we, the UIHJ, you all, are asked to participate as leader in the construction of the ‘enforcement' pole which will be developed in this project. It is again the proof of our statement that law and economics are linked. This is of course not only a challenge but also a tremendous recognition of the necessity of enforcement. Exchanges develop only because they originate in a secure environment, but it is the enforcement professionals who are the privileged vectors of this security, as they ensure the fulfilment of contractual obligations.

 

We should be aware of our strength, enjoy it, cherish it and protect it as our most valuable asset. We should however not forget that the occupation of judicial officer is much less important than that of other legal professions. Yet our influence, our recognition and efficiency are very real. Let us be realistic and consistent with ourselves; we should avoid any dispersion of our actions. They would only result in weakening our profession and therefore weakening each judicial officer of each member state of the UIHJ.

 

Deploy a computer and technology education by providing strategic and technical resources, and an electronic watch. If we master technology, its use will become a force for progress and a real performance boost for our community. And then we can reinvent it. We can mutualize our skills and develop a culture of sharing. To have a solid expertise, we need contributions to our internal or close expertise, such as those of our current partners: NSG, NOTA BENE, ADEC, FNTC ...

 

To successfully integrate innovations from the digital business, we should end the dispersal of our forces. We need to gather and unify: we should interconnect through digital multiplicity the spaces that make up the UIHJ. Let's build universal technology architecture.

 

We will not have an "arms race", but we will substitute the inventiveness to the power of oversized and expensive equipment. We should build with intelligence, coherence and pragmatism, a universal architecture. A harmonized international profession is a strong profession. We should aim at a global harmonization of our professional structures, procedure rules, and production and communication tools.

 

The challenges that await the UIHJ are enormous and the next years will be decisive for the future of the judicial officer. So I will end as always. We should all be conscious of the risks our profession is facing. We should also all be conscious of the importance of the opportunities and prospects which are offered to us. Actions and stakes exceed more and more national levels being in Europe, in Asia, in America or in Africa. It is thus only together that we will be able to face these issues and to move on.

 

Our Union will be our strength.

 

Leo Netten

 

President of the UIHJ