In the context of strengthening judicial relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Italy, Minister of Justice Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani with his Italian counterpart , Carlo Nordio , during an official visit to Italy. They discussed ways to develop joint work and exchange expertise. The meeting concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing Saudi-Italian judicial cooperation through practical and implementable mechanisms.
Background and objectives of the meeting
The two sides discussed developing cooperation in the areas of legislation and judicial systems, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the justice system. Discussions included mechanisms for exchanging expertise , sharing best institutional practices, and supporting training and capacity building for judicial personnel, which will directly improve the quality of judicial services.
Key points of the Memorandum of Understanding
The memorandum opens the door to expanded coordination on issues of mutual interest, including developing legislative frameworks, activating communication channels between relevant authorities, and facilitating participation in seminars, training programs, and workshops. These initiatives are expected to contribute to capacity building , streamlining procedures, and improving the user experience.
Judicial reforms in the Kingdom
Dr. Al-Samaani reviewed the most prominent developments in the Kingdom's judicial sector, supported by the leadership, particularly in the areas of specialized legislation and the preventive justice system. He also noted the strengthening of safeguards and the consolidation of transparency principles through the audio and video recording of court sessions and the publication of judgments—steps that reflect an institutional transformation aimed at increasing efficiency and improving the quality of judicial outcomes.
The impact of Saudi-Italian judicial cooperation
The signing of the memorandum represents a practical step towards linking the expertise of the two justice systems and provides a formal framework for knowledge exchange and the development of regulatory and procedural tools. In the short term, this is expected to support efforts to enhance efficiency and accelerate the transfer of expertise, while in the longer term, it will establish a sustainable institutional path that strengthens the quality of justice and serves beneficiaries in both countries.
The meeting and the signing of the memorandum of understanding reflect Riyadh and Rome’s keenness to elevate judicial cooperation to more organized and effective levels, through joint programs, training initiatives and exchange of experiences that support capacity building and the development of judicial performance, and confirm the continuation of the approach of international partnerships to strengthen justice systems.
