The Supreme Court of the Czech Republic Continued to Play an Active Role in the Network of the Presidents
The Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union has published its 2025 Annual Report, providing an overview of its activities and key developments over the past year. Founded in 2004, the Network is one of the principal international platforms in which the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic participates. It brings together the Presidents of the Supreme Courts of all 27 EU Member States, as well as the supreme judicial institutions of Associate Members and Observers, representing a total of 35 countries.
The Annual Report demonstrates that the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic continued to play an active role in the Network’s activities throughout 2025. This was demonstrated, among other things, by the fact that the President of the Supreme Court, Petr Angyalossy, was re-elected to the Network’s Board at the General Assembly held in The Hague in November 2025.
President Angyalossy also took part in one of the most significant events of the year, namely the Joint Meeting of the Network and the Court of Justice of the European Union, held in Luxembourg in March 2025. Participants exchanged views on the evolving case law of the CJEU concerning the rule of law and judicial independence, as well as on various approaches to balancing the transparency of judicial proceedings with the protection of personal data. President Angyalossy also participated in the Network’s Colloquium, held in The Hague in November 2025. The Colloquium focused on the contribution of international and national courts to the rule of law, the role of national courts in combating impunity for international crimes, and the growing influence of social media on court communication.
The Annual Report also reviews the activities of the Comparative Law Working Group, of which the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic has been a founding member since the very beginning. Apart from our Supreme Court, it brings together legal experts from the Supreme Courts of Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. Through a dedicated forum, members exchange information and comparative insights on legislative developments and case law relevant to their courts’ decision-making activities.
In 2025, discussions within the Working Group covered a wide range of civil and criminal law issues. Among the topics discussed by the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic with its foreign counterparts were for instance shifting of burden of proof if a party prevented another one from presenting the evidence; the method of determination of price reduction for the defective performance; or the treatment of anxiety as a form of damage giving rise to claims for compensation. In the criminal sphere, questions raised by other Member States predominated, including issues concerning the statute of limitations for the most serious crimes and the possibility of reopening proceedings following a previous acquittal.
Representatives of the Department of Analytics and Comparative Law of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic also took part in the annual meeting of the Comparative Law Working Group in Ljubljana in September 2025. The programme included discussions on the role of family and civil law in addressing domestic violence, the definition and modification of the subject matter in criminal proceedings, and the publication and pseudonymisation of judicial decisions, including the use of AI-based tools designed to enhance the protection of personal data in court decisions.
The Annual Report clearly demonstrates that the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic remains actively engaged in the Network’s activities and continues to make full use of the opportunities offered by European judicial cooperation. Through its participation in the Network’s governing bodies and expert working groups, the Supreme Court not only strengthens its relationships with European partners but also gains valuable insights that contribute to the quality and consistency of its decision-making practice.
The Annual Report is available here.