Activating civil society interventions to address structural problems of prison systems in Europe

2026-07-22

The action aims to put civil society fully in a position to contribute to solving structural problems of prison systems and improve conditions of detention in the European Union, thus enhancing the protection of fundamental rights in prison. Firstly, it will enable civil society organisations and law practitioners to coordinate for a more effective contribution to the work of European bodies working on prison issues, thus remedying a deficit in exchange with civil society that currently exists. Secondly, the action will promote, at national level, the adoption of practices and standards that respect the European Charter of Fundamental Rights in prison and reinforce judicial remedies. By providing European bodies with analysis of systemic issues and key national situations, the action will allow for a better identification of structural problems and their causes, and for the adaptation of their strategies and standards accordingly. Regular information on current European case law (CJEU/ECtHR) as well as information on ongoing legal developments at national level in EU countries will also be widely disseminated to law practitioners in their national languages. The action will thus promote the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the circulation of protective legal models among law practitioners in EU countries. The action will also carry out a study on the impact of European interventions in countries that have been subject to a pilot or quasi-pilot judgment due to poor detention conditions. This will allow lessons to be learned, 15 years after the first use of this procedure against an EU Member State.

France

2025-12-15