Brussels, 16/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 16 July, the European Union inaugurated the “European e-Justice portal” - an electronic portal to answer European citizens' questions on their rights throughout the EU member states, and to help lawyers and judges in their daily work. “Today is an important day for the European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Through this portal, we lay the foundations of a more efficient and accessible justice to the European citizen”, said Stefaan De Clerck, Belgian Justice Minister. Available at http: //e-justice.europa.eu, the first version of the portal comprises 12,000 pages of content in 22 languages and provides information and links on laws and practice in force in all member states. For example, there is information on legal aid, judicial training, and videoconferencing, as well as links to legal databases, online insolvency and land registers. All this legal information is now accessible to the over ten million citizens involved in cross-border legal proceedings each year. The internet portal is for citizens, businesses and lawyers who need information on questions relating to justice EU member states. “The e-Justice project is the cornerstone of a modern European Justice, and the e-Justice portal is the door which gives access to it. Intensive cooperation between all stakeholders involved is now essential for a long-lasting success”, said Vivane Reding, European Justice Commissioner. The future versions of the portal will also make EU tools on legal matters more effective by allowing citizens to file a small claims litigation request in the context of European procedure, or an order for payment procedure online in a cross-border context. (B.C./transl.jl)