On Wednesday 20 September, members of the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved by a very large majority the provisional agreement reached with the Council on the last two texts of the ‘Justice Modernisation’ package (see EUROPE 13213/16). These are the regulation on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation (69 votes in favour, 2 abstentions) and the directive amending previous texts on the digitalisation of the judicial system (71 votes in favour, 1 abstention).
These texts (see EUROPE 12844/12) aim to renew access to justice within the EU by favouring digitalisation, while reducing costs and delays. They aspire to harmonise the digital transition between Member States, ensuring that justice is “accessible to all”.
Highlights include increased use of new technologies, such as electronic document exchange, online tax payment and videoconferencing. A central system steered by the European Commission and funded by the Digital Europe programme would be set up, with interfaces in each Member State. The e-Justice portal would provide essential information, while an electronic access point would facilitate exchanges with the authorities.
One of the major concerns remained the inclusiveness of this digitalisation. During the debates, MEPs called for all forms of exclusion to be avoided, for equal access for all to be promoted and for training for professionals to be stepped up.
Videoconferencing will also be available to anyone involved in legal proceedings from another Member State.
The agreement must now be approved at the plenary session in Strasbourg in early October. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)