Brussels, 10/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The informal meeting of Justice Ministers in Rome on Saturday will look at the alternatives to civil action on one hand and to prison sentences on the other. Italian Minister Roberto Castelli is also expected to raise the question of working methods in the field of Justice and Home Affairs.
Civil action: The Presidency hopes to discuss possible measures for reducing the duration of trials or replace them by alternative methods. One year ago, the European Commission adopted a Green Paper on the alternative methods of conflict settlement coming under civil and commercial law, and is to launch work for adopting minimal norms (EUROPE of 20 April 2002). Italy hopes that, under its presidency, the Council will reach a political agreement on the proposal for an enforceable instrument for unchallenged credits, for automatic recognition of a decision taken by the court of another Member State concerning the payment by a debtor of sums unchallenged. The Commission is preparing for November another proposal of regulation to create a European court injunction that would be rapid and economical, and which could replace trials for disputes that are not challenged (EUROPE of 24 December 2002). Another initiative is announced for 2004 for the settlement of disputes for small amounts.
Prison sentences: While the arrangements for implementation (reduction in sentence, among others) varies from one State to the next, Italy considers it essential to ensure a certain amount of harmonisation to ensure there is confidence between the judiciary systems of the different States, mainly for application of the European arrest warrant. It suggests this question should be included in the proposal that the Commission is preparing on procedural guarantees (EUROPE of 1 April, 2003). The Presidency also hopes to take stock of the situation in prisons and prison overcrowding.