The International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) participated in the International Workshop on “Legal Certainty in the Business Environment”, held on 28 and 29 May 2026 at the Iberostar Gran Packard Hotel in Havana, Cuba. The event was organised with the support of the UIHJ under the auspices of the Supreme People’s Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular -TSP) of the Republic of Cuba and brought together senior representatives of the judiciary, legal professionals, academics and international experts to discuss the role of enforcement mechanisms in fostering legal certainty and economic development.
The UIHJ delegation was composed of Mr. Marc Schmitz, President of the UIHJ, and Mr. Luis Ortega, Special Advisor to the President.
The workshop formed part of the ongoing cooperation between the UIHJ and the Cuban judicial authorities and provided a valuable platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices relating to the enforcement of judicial decisions, commercial disputes and insolvency proceedings.
Opening Ceremony
The workshop was officially opened by Dr. Oscar Manuel Silvera Martínez, President of the TSP of the Republic of Cuba, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of effective enforcement mechanisms in strengthening the rule of law and creating a secure environment for economic activity.
Enforcement as a Pillar of Legal Certainty
The first day of the workshop focused on the execution of judgments and the role of enforcement professionals in modern justice systems.
Following a keynote lecture by Professor Juan Mendoza of the Faculty of Law of the University of Havana on the impact of the Cuban Code of Procedure on the enforcement of judgments, UIHJ president Marc Schmitz delivered a presentation entitled “Enforcement Professionals in Europe.”
During his presentation, the President of the UIHJ provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the profession of judicial officer in Europe, its historical development and its contemporary missions. He explained how judicial officers contribute daily to the effective implementation of judicial decisions, legal certainty and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Particular attention was devoted to the evolution of the profession in response to technological developments, the increasing digitalisation of justice and the growing importance of cross-border judicial cooperation. Marc Schmitz also presented the role of the UIHJ as the global representative organisation of judicial officers and highlighted its efforts to promote high professional standards, ethical principles and international cooperation.
The exchanges that followed demonstrated the strong interest of Cuban participants in the European enforcement model and in the experiences developed by UIHJ member organisations around the world.
The discussions continued with presentations by Farah Saucedo Pérez, Vice-President of the TSP of the Republic of Cuba on the experience of the Civil, Family, Commercial and Labour Enforcement Chamber of the Cuban courts, followed by an intervention by legal expert Dominique Hector on the relationship between enforcement agents and judges in Europe.
Commercial Enforcement and Insolvency
The second day of the workshop focused on enforcement measures in commercial matters and insolvency procedures, two subjects of particular relevance in the context of economic development and investment.
Luis Ortega, Special Advisor to the President of the UIHJ, delivered a presentation on “Conservatory and Enforcement Measures in Commercial Matters.” Drawing upon international and comparative experiences, he explained the essential role played by provisional and enforcement measures in safeguarding creditors’ rights and ensuring the effectiveness of judicial proceedings.
His presentation highlighted the importance of rapid and efficient mechanisms capable of preserving assets and guaranteeing the practical execution of judicial decisions. The subsequent debate provided an opportunity for fruitful exchanges between Cuban practitioners and international experts regarding current challenges and emerging trends in commercial enforcement.
The programme concluded with a presentation by Dominique Hector on insolvency proceedings involving economic actors, addressing both legal and practical aspects of insolvency management and creditor protection.
Strengthening International Cooperation
Beyond the technical discussions, the workshop represented an important opportunity to strengthen institutional relations between the UIHJ and the Cuban judicial authorities.
Throughout the two days, participants engaged in open and constructive exchanges concerning the future development of enforcement systems, the challenges posed by economic transformation, and the need to ensure effective access to justice through the proper execution of judicial decisions.
The event also demonstrated the growing importance of international dialogue in addressing common challenges faced by justice systems worldwide. The sharing of experiences between Cuban institutions and international experts contributed to a deeper understanding of different enforcement models and reinforced the value of comparative legal approaches.
A Successful Initiative
The UIHJ warmly welcomes the success of this workshop and expresses its sincere gratitude to the TSP of the Republic of Cuba for its hospitality, excellent organisation and commitment to international cooperation.
The Union remains fully committed to supporting initiatives that promote the rule of law, legal certainty and the effective enforcement of judicial decisions. As repeatedly emphasised during the workshop, legal certainty is an essential condition for economic development, investor confidence and the protection of citizens’ rights.
The Havana workshop constitutes another important step in the strengthening of cooperation between the UIHJ and Cuban judicial institutions and opens promising perspectives for future exchanges and joint initiatives.
