Brussels, 25/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Three out of every four Europeans (73%) want measures to be taken to help them to resolve their disputes and to access their rights in other member states of the Union. This was the conclusion of a Eurobarometer report published on Monday 25 October, to mark European Civil Justice Day.
According to this report, 56% of Europeans feel that access to civil justice is difficult in another country of the Union, compared to just 14% who believe that it is unproblematic. 73% said that they were in favour of additional measures to facilitate this access, and 52% of them believe that these measures should be the subject of common regulation at EU level. Whereas scarcely 2% of respondents have personally been involved in legal proceedings with a person or a company in another member state, 9% feel that it may happen to them one day. As regards international family law, 68% of Europeans believe that the EU should have a say in how national laws are applied in the event of international divorces or the financial affairs of married couples where the spouses originate from different countries. Last July, the Commission points out, the governments of the member states of the Union gave its blessing to 14 countries of the EU to create “reinforced cooperation” in this field. Lastly, the majority (58%) of respondents spoke in favour of additional European measures to improve the recognition of documents between member states.
In order to make it easier for the citizens to find information on resolving legal problems abroad, the e-Justice Portal has been launched, the Commission points out. This institution was due to announce on Monday, jointly with the Council of Europe, the 2010 winners of the “Crystal Scales of Justice” prize, which is awarded to innovative practices in the field of civil and criminal justice. (O.L./transl.fl)