Meetings of the European Labour Court Judges

The judiciary plays a key role in the implementation and evolution of labour law. In some legal traditions the courts apply the law; in others they establish the law as well. In either case, through judicial decisions, legal principles and equitable procedural rules are developed and applied to real situations in order to resolve disputes. Such is the core role of any judicial system, irrespective of the form it may take, the different structures it may adopt, or the different rules of procedure it may apply in the administration and adjudication of cases coming before it.

There is a wide variety of approaches relating to the organization, competence, and rules of procedure governing the hearing and settlement of labour disputes. Many countries have chosen to establish a specialized jurisdiction, made up of labour courts, sometimes also known as industrial tribunals. Such bodies in many respects do not share the characteristics of the so-called regular or ordinary jurisdictions, and in a number of countries they are not part of the general judiciary. Yet in all cases they assume their responsibilities independently of other governmental bodies. Often, they comprise courts, or boards, where professional judges or magistrates sit alongside lay judges or assessors from workers' and employers' organizations. Easy and speedy access, and the absence of formality in the administration of procedures are also common features of these bodies. However, a number of countries do not have this special jurisdiction, and labour disputes are brought before the ordinary courts. Other countries have frequent recourse to alternative dispute resolution procedures, where the settlement of labour disputes is referred to private mediation or arbitration rather than to the judiciary.

The ILO regularly contributes to the professional development of labour court judges and staff by providing vocational training and organizing information symposia.

The ILO collaborates with European Presidents and Judges of Labour Courts, who hold periodic meetings to discuss themes of common concern and to assess the evolution of labour law in their respective countries in light of key judicial decisions.

The meetings of European Labour Court Judges are coordinated by Valerie Van Goethem (vangoethem@ilo.org), Labour Law and Reform Unit, Governance and Tripartism Department, ILO, Geneva.

Meetings of Labour Court Judges

  1. Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Cross-border Social Dialogue

    12 - 15 February 2019

  2. XIXth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Sevilla, Spain)

    19 - 20 September 2011

  3. XVIIIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Jerusalem, Israel)

    11 - 12 October 2010

  4. XVIIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

    12 June 2009

  5. XVIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Helsinki, Finland)

    12 September 2008

  6. XVth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Erfurt, Germany)

    3 - 4 September 2007

  7. XIVth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Paris, France)

    4 September 2006

  8. XIIIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Bologna, Italy)

    19 September 2005

  9. XIIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Budapest, Hungary)

    8 - 9 September 2004

  10. XIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Florence, Italy)

    24 October 2003

  11. Xth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Stockholm, Sweden)

    2 September 2002

  12. IXth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Geneva, Switzerland)

    3 - 4 December 2001

  13. VIIIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Jerusalem, Israel)

    3 September 2000

  14. VIIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Oslo, Norway)

    7 - 8 September 1998

  15. VIth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (the Hague, Netherlands)

    16 September 1996

  16. Vth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Brussels, Belgium)

    6 September 1993

  17. IVth Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Athens, Greece)

    16 September 1991

  18. IIIrd Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Paris, France)

    12 September 1989

  19. IInd Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Tel-Aviv, Israel)

    17 December 1987

  20. Ist Meeting of European Labour Court Judges (Szeged, Hungary)

    3 September 1984