Brussels, 27/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - EU justice ministers gave their go-ahead on Friday 27 February for a negotiating brief to conclude a mutual assistance agreement in legal matters with Japan, announced Czech Justice Minister Jiri Pospisil. A compromise was finally found after Hungary had lifted reservation of a constitutional kind. An agreement would allow cooperation procedures to develop with Japan, mainly concerning the exchange of evidence and hearings of witnesses in areas such as the trafficking of works of art or organised crime. The agreement was called for by Japan in early 2008. “It is not expected that an agreement will be concluded before at least 2 to 3 years from now”, a diplomatic source stressed. Furthermore, Mr Pospisil confirmed that a European electronic justice portal (e-justice) should be launched by the end of 2009. European Commissioner Jacques Barrot for his part said the Commission had signed the contract for conceiving the portal prototype on 25 February with the information services provider, Unisys. He also underlined that rules concerning the development of the videoconference in the field of justice would be finalised at the end of 2009. Finally Mr Pospisil welcomed the “consensus” obtained on the usefulness of a proposal intended to prevent and resolve conflicts of jurisdiction in penal procedures. (B.C./transl.jl)