A European e-Justice Portal
The European e-Justice Portal, which was launched in July 2010, makes it easier to find information about legal issues and to work on legal matters. The launch of the portal is a first step towards a well-developed, multilingual portal that will make things easier for individual citizens, businesses and legal practitioners in the EU.
Comprehensive information will help you to find out about your rights
The European e-Justice Portal is intended to function as an electronic 'one-stop-shop' where all information about the legal systems and judicial procedures of the Member States and the EU are gathered in one place. The information is available in 22 of the EU's languages. The portal also contains numerous links to relevant websites and documents.
The responsibility for the material on the European e-Justice Portal and its administration is shared between the Commission and the individual Member States.
Who would find the portal useful?
- Individual citizens Individual citizens can obtain information about how the legal systems of the 27 Member States function. They can find quick answers when they are facing difficulties, e.g. as a result of a divorce, a death or a legal dispute. Via the portal, individual citizens can find the contact details of a lawyer in another Member State and obtain information about which court to turn to in order to institute legal proceedings in another country, which Member State's legislation applies in cross-border disputes, and when one can request legal aid, etc.
- Legal practitioners Legal practitioners, such as lawyers and judges, have the opportunity through the portal to exchange information more efficiently. The aim is, among other things, to facilitate comparisons between various countries' legal systems and access to information about legal decisions taken in other Member States. Legal practitioners have access to legal databases, can contact colleagues through judicial networks and find out about continuing professional development in the area of law. They also have access to information about how to arrange cross-border video conferences.
- Businesses Businesses can, for example, find information on how they should go about making monetary claims in another Member State and how they can gain access to information in other Member States' insolvency, company and property registers.
Next steps
Over the next few years, the Commission will work together with the Member States to gradually enlarge the portal's contents and develop new functions. The intention is that future versions of the portal will enable EU citizens to deal with European Small Claims Procedure and European Payment Orders via the Internet. Moreover, the idea is that users - taking into account personal data protection aspects - will be able to gain direct access to insolvency, company and property registers via the portal.
Background
The need for transboundary legal services has grown apace with mobility. Increasing numbers of EU citizens spend time in Member States other than their own. It has become more common to study and work in other countries, and the number of international marriages has increased. Small enterprises are also active on the international market. As a consequence, cross-border disputes have become more common.
Since 2006, efforts have been made in the EU aimed at the use of modern technology in law. The aim of these efforts is to improve citizens' access to the judicial system and also to rationalise and simplify legal procedures. A major element of work on e-Justice is about developing the European e-Justice Portal.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council has adopted an action plan for European e-Justice. This action plan contains a timetable for work on developing e-Justice in the EU. Furthermore, it sets out the division of responsibility for the tasks.
Work on the e-Justice Portal is carried out in the Council Working Party on Legal Data Processing (e-Justice).
