A Brussels court ordered Belgium to negotiate the return of a wrongly extradited person to the US — a landmark case discussed with Belgian defence lawyer Christophe Marchand.
Guido Athmer
EFCL Annual Conference 2026, 12 June 2026 in London, United Kingdom – REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW
7 May 2026 | Upcoming Conferences and Webinars
Join the next EFCL Conference which will be a joint conference with the FLA in London!
ECBA Autumn Conference 2026, 2 and 3 October in Tirana, Albania
6 May 2026 | Upcoming Conferences and Webinars
Join the next ECBA Autumn Conference in Tirana, Albania!
ECBA Spring Conference 2026, 24 and 25 April in Barcelona, Spain
25 Apr 2026 | Past Conferences
The conference brought together European criminal defence lawyers for expert discussions on procedural safeguards, fundamental rights and cross-border defence practice.
Writing a new Statement on the Directive on Combatting Corruption
21 Apr 2026 | Corruption & Bribery, Current and future initiatives Business Crime WG
Preparing an ECBA follow-up position on the final EU Anti-Corruption Directive, assessing reforms and remaining defence-rights concerns in Europe’s evolving enforcement framework.
Strategic litigation and court interventions
21 Apr 2026 | Current and future initiatives Human Rights Committee, Fair Trial Standards
The HRC files third-party interventions and amicus briefs in landmark cases before European and domestic courts, ensuring the criminal defence bar shapes the law that governs it.
Drafting and Publishing Statements
21 Apr 2026 | Current and future initiatives Human Rights Committee, Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Privilege, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
The HRC publishes expert statements on judicial independence, lawyer-client privilege, and fair trial rights – driving policy reform and solidarity across Europe and beyond.
Day of the Endangered Lawyer
21 Apr 2026 | Current and future initiatives Human Rights Committee, Defending the Defence
Every January 24th, ECBA’s HRC stands with persecuted lawyers worldwide coordinating advocacy, public outreach, and legal interventions to defend those who defend others.
Mutual Legal Assistance WG Webinars
20 Apr 2026 | Current and future initiatives International Co-operation WG, MLA
The purpose of the MLA working group webinars is to increase knowledge and awareness amongst defence practitioners about the various MLA instruments as well as procedural and other ECHR safeguards in that context.
Engaging with INTERPOL on Policy aspects
20 Apr 2026 | Current and future initiatives International Co-operation WG, INTERPOL
The Interpol WG seeks to engage with Interpol on policy, addressing governing shortcomings. We drive dialogue on transparency, fairness, and human rights safeguards, promoting continued improvement in its practices.
EPPO Webinar
20 Apr 2026 | Current and future initiatives Business Crime WG, EPPO
The webinar hosts defence lawyers and academics or magistrates that discuss practical issues and experiences regarding EPPO cases from different countries. Their scope is to describe relevant defense issues and to advise the members of the ECBA on how to handle them.
ERA Project “European Criminal Law for Defence Lawyers”
18 Apr 2026 | Projects & Impact
The ECBA-ERA partnership has equipped hundreds of defence lawyers with the practical knowledge and networks needed to defend effectively in EU criminal proceedings.
ECBA Statement on Videoconferencing in Criminal Proceedings
18 Apr 2026 | Projects & Impact
A key ECBA contribution to the European debate on fair trial standards in the digital age: the ECBA Statement on Videoconferencing in Criminal Proceedings.
ECBA Handbook on the European Arrest Warrant
18 Apr 2026 | Projects & Impact
One of the ECBA’s landmark deliverables for the European defence community: the ECBA Handbook on the European Arrest Warrant.
Peter Csemiczky (United Kingdom)
17 Apr 2026 | Interviews
I am a partner at Hickman & Rose – a boutique litigation firm in London dedicated to solving criminal, regulatory, and civil law issues arising out of the criminal justice system. Running through all our work is the determination to hold the state to account…
Clara Poglia (Switzerland)
17 Apr 2026 | Interviews
I am a Swiss-based lawyer, practising in Geneva, with a strong focus on dispute resolution. My focus is on white-collar crime, asset tracing, compliance and internal investigations…
Global Legal Community Calls for the Release of Nasrin Sotoudeh – April 2026
10 Apr 2026 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
On 10 April 2026, the ECBA and a coalition of 30 international legal organisations issued a formal...
ECBA backs call for implementation of ECtHR and CJEU judgments
26 Mar 2026 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The ECBA joined call for the implementation of European Court of Human Rights / Cour européenne des droits de l’homme (ECtHR) and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) judgments.
Become a Member
23 Mar 2026 | Members
Register now for your ECBA Membership
ECBA Meets ECtHR on Case Processing and Expansion
20 Mar 2026 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
Chair Vânia Costa Ramos and Human Rights Officer Alexis Anagnostakis attended the European Court of Human Rights’ Meeting with NGOs and Litigators in Strasbourg.
Find a Lawyer
20 Mar 2026 | Tools
Criminal Defence Lawyers in Europe.
This section of our website contains contact details of individual practitioners who confirm that they are specialist criminal defence practitioners.
ECBA & LATR Submit Joint Response to INTERPOL’s CCF Statute Amendments
11 Mar 2026 | Evidence, International Co-operation, INTERPOL, LinkedIn IC, LinkedIn PSG, Procedural Safeguards, Remedies
The ECBA and Lawyers Against Transnational Repression have submitted a joint response to INTERPOL’s Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD) regarding proposed amendments to the CCF Statute.
ECBA & LATR Joint Submission: Reforming INTERPOL’s Oversight – March 2026
11 Mar 2026 | Evidence, International Co-operation, INTERPOL, Procedural Safeguards, Remedies
The ECBA and Lawyers Against Transnational Repression (LATR) have submitted a joint response to INTERPOL’s Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD) regarding proposed amendments to the CCF Statute.
Data Retention and Encryption Workarounds
16 Feb 2026 | Current and future initiatives Cybercrime, Tech & AI WG, E-Justice, AI & Lawtech
The ECBA contributes to FRA research on encryption workarounds by preparing input, questionnaires, and interviews with defence lawyers across Europe.
Renewal of the 2020 Videoconferencing Statement
16 Feb 2026 | Current and future initiatives Cybercrime, Tech & AI WG, Video-conferencing
The ECBA Cybercrime Working Group revises its 2020 videoconferencing statement, addressing trials in absentia, proportionality, and digital justice safeguards.
Harmonisation of Rules on Digital Evidence
16 Feb 2026 | Current and future initiatives Cybercrime, Tech & AI WG, E-evidence
The ECBA Cybercrime Working Group proposes EU minimum standards on digital evidence to address divergent national rules and safeguard fair trials.
Safeguarding INTERPOL’s Systems: Recommendations for Reform – February 2026
13 Feb 2026 | International Co-operation, INTERPOL, Procedural Safeguards, Remedies
The ECBA and Lawyers Against Transnational Repression (LATR) have submitted a joint response to INTERPOL’s Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD) regarding proposed amendments to the CCF Statute.
ECBA Assurance Project
12 Feb 2026 | Current and future initiatives International Co-operation WG, EAW
States offer prison assurances to obtain surrender/extradition. These follow findings of incompliant detention conditions. We share these and seek to ensure compliance therewith.
EAW Handbook update and launch events
12 Feb 2026 | Current and future initiatives International Co-operation WG, EAW
The EAW Handbook helps defence lawyers obtain the best outcome for clients when challenging EAWs in either the issuing or executing State.
Extradition WG monthly Webinars
12 Feb 2026 | Current and future initiatives International Co-operation WG, EAW, Extradition
Lawyers practicing in EAW and extradition cases exchange experiences in domestic cases which can be of interest for other jurisdictions.