03/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 22 February, the European Commission called for applications for the Crystal Scales of Justice prize, a European competition organised every two years by the Commission and the Council of Europe for innovative practices that contribute to the quality of civil justice in Europe. To be eligible to compete, initiatives must be presented by a court, a legal bar, an association of legal professionals or any other entity responsible for legal affairs in a member state of the EU or the Council of Europe. Applications for the 2008 event must meet the conditions given in the competition rules and reach the organiser by 1 June 2008. The prize will be awarded on 24 October, European Civil Justice Day. In 2006, the Crystal Scales of Justice prize was awarded to an initiative from the Linz Regional Court in Austria providing litigants with a single contact point for undertaking business with or obtaining information from the court. (B.C.)