Press Release: Commission proposal to guarantee citizens’ rights to access a lawyer to become law

A European Commission proposal guaranteeing the right of all citizens in the EU to be advised by a lawyer when facing criminal proceedings was formally adopted on 7 October 2013, after approval was given by the Council of Ministers.

This followed a vote by the European Parliament to endorse the Directive on 10 September 2013. In practice, this means that all suspects – no matter where they are in the European Union – in future will be guaranteed the right to be advised by a lawyer from the earliest stages of proceedings until their conclusion. Where a suspect is arrested, the new rules would ensure that the person has the opportunity to communicate with their family. If they are outside of their home country, citizens would have the right to be in contact with their country’s consulate.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Another landmark of the procedural rights agenda has been met: European Parliament adopts Commission proposal on access to a lawyer http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-another-landmark-of-the-procedural-rights-agenda-has-been-met-european-parliament-adopts-commission-proposal-on-access-to-a-lawyer/

Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/13/398: Council adopts the directive on the right of access to a lawyer http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/138913.pdf

Blog: European Area of Freedom Security & Justice, 10.11.13: Access to a Lawyer : a new EU-wide procedural right in criminal proceedings http://free-group.eu/2013/11/10/access-to-a-lawyer-a-new-eu-wide-procedural-right-in-criminal-proceedings/

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