International Relations

The Supreme Administrative Court is closely involved in Nordic, European and other international relations of administrative courts. The Supreme Administrative Court also has bilateral interactions with foreign courts.

ACA-Europe and the International Association of Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions are important forums for international debate and exchange of information. In particular, the uniform application of Union law in all Member States provides an important foundation for in-depth cooperation between the supreme national courts. The Supreme Administrative Court is also involved in the work of the Venice Commission under the Council of Europe. The purpose of the Venice Commission is to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Nordic Relations

There is significant cooperation between the culturally, linguistically and judicially closely related Nordic countries. The Supreme Courts of Norway, Denmark and Iceland as well as the Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden are important interlocutors of the Finnish supreme courts, for example in assessing the development of legislation and comparing legal practice. The presidents of the courts meet annually in each country in turn, and more extensive meetings between judges are organised every other year.

European courts

The Supreme Administrative Court also has significant cooperation with the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights. Regular meetings are held with the judges of these courts. The Supreme Administrative Court is also a member of the Council of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the supreme courts of the Member States.

European networks

European judges cooperate closely through established networks. Judges from outside Europe also visit the Supreme Administrative Court. In addition to the activities of the Supreme Administrative Court, these judges are given the opportunity to study Finnish society at large. Judges of the Supreme Administrative Court also go abroad for judge exchanges. Such exchanges typically last one or two weeks.

Judges of the Supreme Administrative Court also participate in international relations in different legal fields. Examples include tax law, environmental law, public procurement and competition law organisations, as well as the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges.

The purpose of international relations is to maintain dialogue on developments in European law in particular, but also on the legal situation in various countries and to monitor developments in the rule of law around the world. The underlying principle of these activities is the consolidation of democracy and human rights.