The UIHJ received by the European Commission within the framework of the Stobra projects

The delegation of the UIHJ was composed of Françoise Andrieux, President, Luis Ignacio Ortega Alcubierre, Vice President, and Mathieu Chardon, Secretary General.

The meeting mainly concerned the presentation of the Stobra projects the UIHJ has been working on for several years. The objective of these projects is to identify the best practices in the profession of judicial officer and as regards enforcement of court decisions in Europe to draft recommendations for the use of countries and institutions. Seven projects have been identified:
• Stobra 1: Attachment of immovable
• Stobra 2: Service of documents
• Stobra 3: Transparency of Assets
• Stobra 4: Statements of facts
• Stobra 5: Training
• Stobra 6: ICT
• Stobra 7: Debt collection

Specifically, the delegation of the UIHJ presented the progress of the Stobra 3 project on transparency of assets, the work being almost complete. Françoise Andrieux explained that the UIHJ wants to make recommendations on all Stobras projects for the end of 2017 as part of a symposium organised with the European Commission. The objective of the UIHJ, said the President of the UIHJ, is to provide the European Union, countries, professionals and litigants, with practical and functional tools, while emphasising the importance that the work undertaken are in line with those of the Commission.

Mr Fonseca said that this vision matches that of the European Commission which seeks the expertise of professionals and organisations such as the UIHJ, "a privileged partner."

The discussion also focused on international cooperation. Luis Ortega explained that the UIHJ has recently participated in a conference organised in Mar del Plata (Argentina). On this occasion the delegation of the UIHJ, led by its President and Vice-President, met Germán Carlos Garavano, Minister of Justice of Argentina as well as the Minister of Justice of the Province of Buenos Aires. The Minister of Justice of Argentina explained to the representatives of the UIHJ that the country faces difficulties in the service of documents, particularly in cross-border matters with other countries in South America. Mr Garavano seeks the expertise of the UIHJ and said that the assistance of the European Union would be just as welcome in the context of an international cooperation. Mr Fonseca received this request recalling that the European Commission was open to any cooperation project.

Finally, Françoise Andrieux evoked the ongoing creation of the European Union of Judicial Officers (UEHJ). The President of the UIHJ explained that this structure, internal to the UIHJ, will soon represent the interests of the European Judicial Officers within the European Union.