Photograph: Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic

A seminar organised by the Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic and ACA-Europe on Measures to Facilitate and Restrict Access to Administrative Courts was held in Brno, the Czech Republic, on September 9, 2019. On the eve of the seminar delegates met in the Moravian Karst, where they were welcomed by Michal Mazanec, President of the Court. Relating to the historic experience of former Czechoslovakia, he emphasised the importance of cooperation among European administrative jurisdictions. The visit of Punkva Caves and Macocha Abbys was enriched by Antonín Dvořák´s Largo from the New World Symphony performed by Lenka Bursíková, judicial assistant at the Court.

Nearly 35 members of Supreme Administrative Courts and Councils of State from 25 countries in Europe gathered in the building of the Court to search for a proportional solution of an ongoing tension between two principles: the right to a fair trial on the one hand and the efficiency of judicial review on the other. Furthermore, two distinguished guests from the Court of Justice of the European Union, Michal Bobek, Advocate General at the Court of Justice, and Jan M. Passer, Judge at the General Court, joined the session. The basis of the seminar was formed by the General Report, compiled by Zdeněk Kühn and Pavel Molek, academics and judges at the Court. The Report synthesised national reports provided by 23 jurisdictions. The seminar was opened by Barbara Pořízková, Vice-President of the Court. She thanked German Presidency for entrusting the Court with organization of the seminar. By asking how to face an increasing number of cases which are being brought before administrative courts and whether the barriers that stand in front of individuals demanding judicial protection are just and right, she framed the pattern of the seminar.