EUPOL COPPS facilitated the visit of a delegation from the Palestinian Bar Association (PBA) to the Florence Bar Association (FBA)

Florence, On 26 – 28 October 2014, EUPOL COPPS sponsored and facilitated the visit of a delegation from the Palestinian Bar Association (PBA) to the Florence Bar Association (FBA) to enhance the cooperation between the two associations. The PBA delegation was comprised of President Hussein Shabaneh, Councilmen Mohammad Jarrar and Yazid Alhajqasem, and seven other PBA Main Office staff members.

In the course of the three day visit, the PBA visited all departments within the FBA headquarters, examining best practices and lessons learnt with the goal of using it as a model for the restructuring of the PBA. The delegation also met with the Union of Florence Lawyers, the Equal Opportunities Committee of the FBA, and the President of the Court of Florence. Finally, an assembly comprised of 500 lawyers was held during which a presentation on the EUPOL COPPS supported cooperation between the FBA and the PBA was given.

Both Bar Associations agreed to continue cooperation on three key areas: the re-structuring of the PBA, the IT development of the PBA through a dedicated intranet and enhanced webpage to provide support to lawyers as well as provide information to the public, and the international relations of the PBA. 

The visit fell within the context of the ongoing cooperation between the two Association, which from the start has been facilitated and supported by EUPOL COPPS.