Justice Programme (2014-2020)

This programme contributes to the further development of a European Union area of justice based on mutual recognition and mutual trust, by promoting judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters and helping train judges and other legal practitioners.

ACT

Regulation (EU) No 1382/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a Justice Programme for the period 2014 to 2020.

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS REGULATION DO?

It establishes the Justice programme for the period 2014-2020. It replaces 3 funding programmes that expired in 2013 (Civil Justice Programme, Criminal Justice Programme and Drug Prevention and Information Programme).

KEY POINTS

The Justice Programme aims to ensure that EU law is fully and consistently applied. Its mission is to facilitate access to justice for people and businesses throughout the EU, particularly when they live, work, do business or even face trial in another EU country.

The 2014-2020 programme specifically promotes:

• judicial cooperation in civil matters, including civil and commercial matters, insolvencies, family matters (such as divorce) and successions, etc.,
• judicial cooperation in criminal matters such as financial crime (fraud, money laundering, corruption), cybercrime, environmental crime, terrorism, trafficking in human beings, sexual exploitation and child pornography, etc.,
• judicial training, including language training on legal terminology, with a view to fostering a EU common legal and judicial culture,
• effective access to justice in the EU, including rights of victims of crime and procedural rights in criminal proceedings,
• drugs policy initiatives (judicial cooperation and crime prevention aspects).

EU added value:

All actions funded must provide added value at EU level.

Projects funded must:

• contribute to the effective and consistent implementation of EU law instruments (such as the European Arrest Warrant) or policies,
• improve knowledge and understanding of EU law and policies, both for citizens and for legal professionals,
• promote cross-border cooperation and develop mutual trust among EU countries,
• improve the efficiency of judicial systems and their cooperation by means of information and communication technology,
• create practical tools and solutions to address cross-border judicial issues.

Actions funded:

• training activities (staff exchanges, seminars, development of online training tools or training modules for members of the judiciary and judicial staff, etc.),
• mutual learning, cooperation activities, exchange of best practices, peer reviews, development of information technology tools including the improvement of the EU e-Justice portal to improve citizens’ access to justice,
• awareness-raising activities, information campaigns, conferences, etc.,
• support for key players (key EU organisations and networks EU countries’ authorities implementing EU law, etc.),
• analytical activities (studies, data collection, development of common methodologies, indicators, surveys, preparation of guides, etc.).

To ensure the implementation of the programme, an annual work programme is adopted by the Commission with an overview of the main areas of funding and the budget allowed per objective.

WHEN DOES THIS REGULATION APPLY?

From 29 December 2013. The programme started on 1 January 2014.

For more information, see:

• DG Justice on the European Commission’s website,
• Justice programme on the European Commission's website.

last update 15.06.2015