“To consolidate a modern justice system at the service of the EU’s citizens, in which equality is a guiding principle and social and territorial cohesion is achieved through the digital transformation”. This is how the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU sums up its priorities in the area of Justice over the next 6 months.
To achieve this, the digitalisation of the judicial system is set to be one of the major lines of action of the new rotating Presidency, particularly in the field of cross-border judicial cooperation (see EUROPE 13213/16). In its programme, Spain states that it will work on “the new instruments to replace the current European e-Justice Strategy and Action Plan”.
In criminal law matters, the Spanish Presidency has announced that it will endeavour to conclude negotiations with the European Parliament on proposals for environmental protection (see EUROPE 13201/20), for which technical meetings are scheduled for 10 and 11 July. It also intends to push forward discussions on the proposal for a directive on the transfer of criminal proceedings (see EUROPE 13157/12).
In civil law matters, the Spanish Presidency has undertaken to continue negotiations on proposals relating to parent-child relationships, in particular the introduction of a European parenthood certificate, proposed for the end of 2022 (see EUROPE 13079/9). Plans have also been made for progress on issues relating to liability for damage caused by defective products, on which the Council adopted its position in June (see EUROPE 13201/21), adapting non-contractual civil liability and the protection of vulnerable adults in cross-border situations, on which a proposal was presented by the Commission at the end of May (see EUROPE 13191/15).
The Spanish Presidency aims to encourage the practical effectiveness of judicial cooperation instruments beyond the regulatory framework, “by training the justice professionals who will implement them and supporting the work of cooperation networks”.
The new Presidency has also emphasised the role of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in the fight against fraud to the European Union’s financial interests.
Finally, in its programme, Spain returned to the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine on the EU’s legal policy. On this point, the Spanish Presidency will promote the adoption of the proposal for a directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties applicable to breaches of the Union’s restrictive measures, on which the Member States have agreed under the Swedish Presidency (see EUROPE 13198/4).
The new Presidency also emphasised the “crucial” role of the European agency for judicial cooperation, Eurojust, in the fight against cross-border organised crime, and stated its intention to support international judicial cooperation.
Spain is organising an informal ministerial meeting on justice and home affairs in Logroño on 20 and 21 July.
To read the programme, go to https://aeur.eu/f/7yf (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)