European Judicial Network

8.19.08am GMT Wed 5th Nov 2008

Diana Wallis MEP's opinion was adopted unanimously in the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee on 4th November. It follows on from her detailed work on national judges and tries to improve an existing (but relatively recent) network mainly aimed at enhanced cross-border cooperation between judges, but also to inform the public and the legal professions on various instruments adopted at EU level.

Diana Wallis, the Liberal group's spokesperson on the Legal Affairs Committee, will now take part in intensive talks with her parliamentary colleagues and with the French Presidency to enshrine these improvements into legislation before the new year.

Ms. Wallis said:

"It is crucial that the judiciary and those bodies representing the legal professions can benefit from a one-stop-shop and an organised network when it comes to complicated cross-border questions. This is a good example of proportionate policy making, having regard to the principle of subsidiarity: no heavy handed legislation, but a streamlined and effective network which brings concrete solutions to cross-border cases.

"I am delighted that the Legal Affairs Committee unanimously accepted the report which should be a step forward in cooperation between European judges on civil issues and also help further inform both legal professionals and, indeed, the public via a website on how to access European civil law procedures when they have a cross-border legal problem."

Notes:

EJN website: http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/index_en.htm