European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters

The committee adopted the report by Margot KESSLER (PES, D) broadly approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a number of amendments. It essentially welcomed the proposal as an opportunity to simplify judicial cooperation between the Member States, but wanted to ensure that the activities of the Network ultimately benefited the general public. It therefore specified that the information sheets to be drawn up should provide practical information for citizens in easily understandable language. The committee also felt that the experiences of the Judicial Network in criminal matters should be turned to account and that cooperation should be possible with the members of that network in matters which concerned both networks. On a similar practical note, the committee included a reference to the IDA computer network which had been set up in the context of trans-European networks, to draw attention to the fact that an existing secure system for electronic interchange of data could be used. Another key point made by the committee was that the applicant countries should be allowed to take part in the meetings of the Network, as this would make it easier for them to prepare for the implementation of the 'acquis communautaire'. Lastly, the committee wanted the Commission to report on the application of the decision at three-yearly intervals, instead of every five years. �