Brussels — In a significant step toward addressing persistent staffing shortages in the judiciary, Belgium’s Ministry of Justice will on Friday publish 113 vacant magistrate positions in the Belgian Official Gazette.
This marks the first time during the current federal legislature that such a large-scale recruitment campaign has been launched for the country’s courts and public prosecutors’ offices.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the recruitment includes 60 vacancies for judges in courts and tribunals and 53 positions within public prosecutors’ offices. The total recruitment package carries a budgetary allocation of €12 million.
“This is a crucial step forward in reinforcing the justice system,” said Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden in a statement released Thursday. “We invite legal professionals dreaming of a career as a judge or prosecutor to apply.”
The application window will remain open for 20 days following the announcement. However, the eligibility criteria remain stringent. Only legal professionals who have either passed the magistracy examination or completed a two-year judicial internship will be considered for the positions.
The announcement is being welcomed within legal circles as a long-awaited response to repeated calls from the sector to deal with structural under-resourcing. Belgium’s judicial system has struggled for years with understaffing, which has often led to delayed court proceedings and increased pressure on sitting magistrates.
Minister Verlinden, who has led consultations with judicial stakeholders over recent months, said the recruitment drive follows a series of thematic task forces that explored key challenges faced by the judiciary — including inadequate infrastructure, growing caseloads, limited resources, and security concerns.
“We have deliberately chosen to develop a plan for and by the field,” Verlinden said. “The rule of law is not just a legal principle; it’s a societal choice we must commit to and defend daily. I stand with our magistrates in this endeavour.”
The decision to publish the vacancies is being seen as a political milestone within the current federal government, especially amid increasing public and professional demands for more efficient and accessible justice.
While the €12 million budget represents a significant investment, legal experts say continued and consistent funding will be essential to ensure long-term improvements in the system.
In particular, the integration and support of new magistrates will require robust mentoring and ongoing training, especially in light of the increasingly complex nature of legal proceedings in areas such as cybercrime, financial fraud, and asylum law.
The vacancies will be detailed in Friday’s edition of the Belgian Official Gazette, providing specifics on the nature of each post, its location, and the application procedures.
The Ministry of Justice has also announced that further information and guidance for applicants will be made available on its official website.
With this move, the federal government aims not only to address immediate staff shortages but also to send a broader message about its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that Belgian citizens have timely access to justice.
