The report concerns how to improve the use of information technology in Europe's judicial and legal systems to enhance their efficiency and accessibility. Whereas there is already some commendable projects and joint working by certain Member States on the use of IT in Europe's judicial system, there is still a need for greater coordination and, in particular, a greater emphasis on the citizen.
Ms. Wallis's report therefore calls for further work on e-justice to be focussed on facilitating access to justice for European citizens particularly in a cross border context, such as through the availability of an European 'e-justice portal' for citizens, which could, for example, facilitate applications for legal aid cross-border, and through ensuring the availability of citizen friendly legal information resources in all Community languages.
Diana also calls for greater coordination to make sure that all current and future European legislation in the area of civil justice is compatible with and has taken into account needs of future information technology for use in e-justice. The Commission should be required to confirm that all relevant proposals have been checked for e-justice friendliness, such as by ensuring that any standard forms are also suitable for online use. Once again, priority would be given to those areas that affect European citizens and small businesses.
Following its adoption in the Legal Affairs Committee, the report will be voted on at the plenary session in December Strasbourg.
