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Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

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Legal cases processed in first instance courts by legal status of the court process (since 2022) (crim_crt_case22)

Reference Metadata in Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS)

Compiling agency: European Commission - Eurostat

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The figures from 2022 year of reference onwards on court cases are based on the data collected by the Commission for the efficiency of justice (CEPEJ) of the Council of Europe (CoE). It is available at country level for European Union Member States.
The statistics include the number of cases divided by status incoming (brought to court)/resolved/pending at the end of the year for the categories criminal (total) and other than criminal (non-criminal) (total). For the category other than criminal (non-criminal), two sub-categories are provided: litigious civil and/or commercial, and administrative.

12 June 2024

For further information on concepts and definitions see the CEPEJ explanatory note to the scheme for evaluating european judicial systems 2024 cycle (2022 data)

CASES PROCESSED BY THE COURTS
First instance courts
Definition: Refers to the initial trial courts where legal proceedings are first heard
Incoming (Brought to court)
Definition: All cases submitted to court for the first time. Cases which have already been submitted to a court at the same instance level (after an appeal for example) are counted again. 
Resolved cases
Definition: All the procedures which have come to an end at the instance level during the year of reference, either through a judgment or through any other decision which ended the procedure (provisional decisions or procedural decisions not ending the case (e.g., on parties, perfection of the claims, allowing or disallowing the evidence, expenses etc.) should not be counted here).
Pending cases
Definition: it refers to the total number of cases that are not completed at the end of the reference year (by 31st December).

Criminal cases (total)
Definition: This includes all cases (severe or misdemeanour according to CEPEJ definitions) for which a sanction may be imposed by a judge, even if this sanction is foreseen, in some national systems, in an administrative code (e.g. fines or community service). It also includes “other criminal cases” which are an exception to the general definition of criminal cases, as this category of cases usually includes procedures in which sanction may not be imposed (such as criminal investigation, enforcement of criminal sanctions etc.) when such procedures are in the jurisdiction of courts. The offenses sanctioned directly by the police or by an administrative authority, and not by a judge, are not counted.

Other than Criminal cases (Non-Criminal cases)
Definition: Includes Civil/Commercial litigious, non-litigious cases (including general civil/commercial non-litigious cases, registry cases and other non-litigious cases), administrative cases and other non-criminal cases. See below definition for Civil/Commercial litigious and Administrative cases.

Litigious Civil/Commercial cases
Definition: Litigious civil (and commercial) cases are for instance litigious divorce cases or disputes regarding contracts. In some countries commercial cases are addressed by special commercial courts, whilst in other countries these cases are handled by ordinary (civil) courts. Bankruptcy proceedings must be understood as litigious proceedings. Despite the organisational differences between countries in this respect, all the information concerning civil and commercial cases should be included in the same category. If appropriate, litigious civil (and commercial) cases do not include administrative law cases (see category Administrative cases). Any other type of litigious cases (e.g. judicial appeal against deeds processed by an enforcement agent) is included in this category.

Administrative cases
Definition: Administrative law cases (litigious or non-litigious) concern disputes between citizens and (local, regional or national) authorities, for instance: asylum refusals or refusals of construction permit applications. Administrative cases are considered only if processed in court and not when it is only an issue under any administrative body. Administrative law cases are in some countries addressed by special administrative courts or tribunals, whilst in other countries they are handled by the ordinary civil courts. If countries have special administrative courts/tribunals or separate administrative law procedures or are anyway able to distinguish between administrative law cases and civil law cases, these figures should be indicated separately under “administrative law cases”.

The basic statistical units are cases processed by the courts.

For administrative data, the statistical population for each statistic is the complete register (all the relevant records). 

European Union Member States
CY: The data provided by Cyprus do not include data of the territory which is not under the effective control of the Government of Cyprus

The standard reference period is the calendar year.

Court statistics reflect the number of cases processed by the courts. However, the type of cases within the different CEPEJ categories with which courts deal can differ in the countries. The specifics of some countries are described in the general and specific comments (See 10.6).

Absolute number.
Rate per 100.000 population size.

Population size is defined as resident population January 1st according to Eurostat database population figures.

Not applicable.

The first instance courts statistics published annually are derived from administrative sources covering courts of the justice system. The source data type is the data recorded in the administrative registers.

Annual.

Data collected from the justice system sum up cases recorded over the course of a year, usually from the 1st of January to the 31st of December of the reference year. The data for the reference year Y are disseminated at Y+17 months, after a process of collection, quality check and only after the publication of the EU Justice Scoreboard by European Commission (see 8.1).

As countries records information primarily for their own administrative purposes, the data and methods they use may vary. However, countries should provide data in accordance with the CEPEJ methodology to ensure comparability of data from different judicial systems. This consistency and comparability is checked during the quality check process carried on by CEPEJ Secretariat. Any discrepancies from the CEPEJ definitions are described in the comments in 10.6.

CEPEJ is providing data to Eurostat starting with 2022 year of reference. Eventual changes in future that might introduce breaks in the time series from the side of data providers or eventual changes in CEPEJ methodology (within questionnaire/explanatory note) will be noted and registered in the countries’ comments.  These are also indicated by the flag ‘b’ for values in the datasets.

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