Luxembourg, 23/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 23 October, the European justice ministers adopted new measures to better protect the rights of the accused in criminal proceedings. "This is a great day for individual rights", said Swedish Justice Minister Beatrice Ask after the meeting. In Luxembourg, the ministers reached an agreement in principle on a proposed framework decision to harmonise rights to interpretation and translation during criminal proceedings within the Union, in order to guarantee the right of the accused to a fair trial (EUROPE 9937 and 9938). The text aims to ensure that any person suspected or accused of a crime and who does not understand or speak the language used is entitled to an interpreter during police interrogation sessions, meetings with lawyers and hearings before courts of law. They will also be entitled to have all important documents translated, so that they can clearly understand what they are accused of. It will be the responsibility of the member states to carry the costs for interpreting and translation. The ministers also adopted a roadmap providing for future proposals to reinforce the procedural rights of suspects in criminal cases. Apart from the project regarding rights to interpreting and translation, proposals on the following have been mentioned: - specific information on rights and the accusation; - the assistance of a legal councillor and legal aid; - communication with next of kin, employers and consular authorities; - specific guarantees for suspects or accused persons who are particularly vulnerable; - a Green Paper on provisional custody. (B.C./transl.fl)