the commission e-justice strategy 1st international conference on ict solutions for justice...
TRANSCRIPT
The Commission e-Justice
strategy1st International Conference on ICT Solutions for
JusticeThessaloniki, October 24, 2008
European CommissionDirectorate-General Justice and Home affairs – Unit E1 e-JusticeMauro MIRANDA
What is e-Justice?
The use of ICT in the administration of justice
Objectives:
1. To improve access to justice
2. To foster co-operation between judicial and prosecutorial authorities
3. To increase the effectiveness of justice (time & cost)
European Commission
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
Where do we stand?
Several initiatives at national level and bilateral or multilateral level but – a dearth of EU action…
Commission Communication of 30 May 2008 – an inventory of the status quo and a roadmap for the future
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
Existing initiatives (examples)
• e-Law (eg. Eurlex, N-lex, www.network-presidents.eu, www.juradmin.eu...)
• Pilot project on interconnection of criminal records (ECRIS)
• Prototype of e-Justice portal = interconnection of insolvency registers
• National tools for communication practitioners-courts (eg. on-line payment order in Italy)
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The Commission’s role
1. Support existing initiatives (financially and otherwise), public and private
2. Coordinate and promote exchange of best practices
3. Develop new tools at EU level (e-Justice portal)
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The e-Justice portalA portal designed for the general public, citizens and businesses, as well as legal professionals…
Functions:
1. Information about
- rights of victims in criminal trials
- rights of defendants in criminal proceedings
- general principles of remedies available in civil courts
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The e-Justice portal (continued)2. Orientation: links to existing information tools
(legal databases), European judicial authorities, on-line registers (eg. European Business Register), Atlas (how to find the competent judicial authority)
3. Direct access to European procedures (eg. small claims procedure) or access to documents (eg. criminal record)
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
e-Justice and judicial co-operation
1. Full interconnection of criminal record registers - ECRIS - on the basis of pilot project
2. Creation of a secured network between judicial authorities
Issues: e-signature, e-identity…
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
e-Justice and judicial co-operation (continued)
3. Increased recourse to videoconference
4. Translation tools:• Automatic translation• Legal interpreters database• Dynamic on-line forms (eg. for EAW)
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
Next steps
• Launch of the portal (2009)• Feasibility studies & pilot projects (e-signature,
dynamic forms, interpreters database)• User’s manual for videoconference• Training for professionals• In principle, no new legislation!
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
Conclusions
e-Justice : opportunities and challenges
A tool for more efficient, more accessible justice for citizens, and for easier cooperation between judicial authorities
Challenges: interoperability, semantics, language, cultural barriers…
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
Thank you for the attention!
Questions?
e-Justice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, security
and justice
European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs