site.btaSofia Conference Discusses Future of e-Justice in EU

Sofia, May 15 (BTA) - "E-justice is among the priorities of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria which requires consistent efforts in order to achieve efficient results. It combines law, technology, and the interests of the public and judiciary bodies," said Bulgarian Justice Minister Tsetska Tsacheva on Monday during the opening of a conference on the future of e-justice in the EU.

The two-day forum (May 14 and 15) is taking place within the framework of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and is organized jointly by the Bulgarian Justice Ministry and the European Commission.

Tsacheva recalled that since the beginning of the Bulgarian EU Presidency intensive discussions have been underway on the preparations of the new EU strategy on e-justice 2019-2023. Tsacheva said that Bulgaria supports efforts at a European level on establishing a general framework for the applicable jurisdiction with regards to cybercrime.

EU Commissioners Mariya Gabriel and Vera Jourova sent video messages to delegates.

Fourteen EU members are using e-CODEX, a digital platform, which provides safe and easy access to cross-border justice for citizens, businesses and legal experts in Europe.

Alonso Hernandes Pinzon, Managing Director of the European Lawyers Foundation, presented the potential of e-CODEX with regards to family law. According to him, it allows easier access to legal protection for nearly 16 million couples in the EU of different nationalities.

Attending were experts of all EU members states, representatives of Europol, Eurojust, the General Secretariat of the Council and the European Commission.