Brussels, 14/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Academy of European Law (ERA) and the Council of the Notaries of the European Union (CNUE) have welcomed the adoption of the Stockholm Programme, which they feel should provide just the encouragement needed for cooperation among member states on justice matters. “The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty … provides the basis for the EU to significantly intensify its cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs. The Stockholm Programme represents an ambitious plan to make the most of this new legal basis to strengthen Europe's area of freedom, security and justice,” said Director of ERA Dr Wolfgang Heusel. He went on to say that such cooperation could only become a reality if those responsible for administering justice were trained to a high level in the instruments of cooperation, as is provided for in the Stockholm Programme (see EUROPE 10037). The CNUE was pleased to note that the Stockholm Programme expressly states that the EU should consider abolishing all formalities for the legalisation of authentic documents between member states, and that thought should be given to the possibility of creating, in the long term, European authentic instruments. The CNUE was also pleased with the attention paid in the Programme to matters affecting the lives of families. It supports the draft legislative proposal on matrimonial property regimes for 2010 and call for further work to reach an agreement on the draft regulation on divorce (Rome III). (B.C./transl.rt)