Case C‑603/22

Criminal proceedings

against

M.S. and Others

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Rejonowy w Słupsku)

Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 5 September 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Directive (EU) 2016/800 – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Scope – Article 2(3) – Persons who were children on the date on which criminal proceedings were initiated against them but who reach the age of 18 years during the proceedings – Article 4 – Right to information – Article 6 – Right of access to a lawyer – Article 18 – Right to legal aid – Article 19 – Remedies – Admissibility of evidence obtained in breach of procedural rights)

1. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/800 – Assistance by a lawyer – National legislation not providing for mandatory assistance by a lawyer before and during the first questioning of a child who is a suspect or accused person – Not permissible

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2016/800, Arts 6 and 18)

   (see paragraphs 106-113, 121, operative part 1)

2. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/800 – Assistance by a lawyer – Provisions establishing the right of a child who is a suspect or accused person to be assisted by a lawyer – Direct effect

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2016/800, Art. 6(1) to (3))

   (see paragraphs 119, 175)

3. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/800 – Scope – National legislation providing that the right of a child to be assisted by a court-appointed lawyer automatically ends from the age of 18 – Not permissible

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2016/800, Arts 2(1) and (3), 6 and 18)

   (see paragraphs 127-133, 136, operative part 2)

4. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/800 – Scope – Provisions providing for the applicability of the directive to children who have reached the age of 18 during the criminal proceedings – Direct effect

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2016/800, Art. 2(1) and (3))

   (see paragraph 135)

5. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/800 – Right to information – National legislation not providing that children are to be provided with information on their rights, drawn up in simple and accessible language – Not permissible

   (European Parliament and Council Directives 2012/13, Art. 3, and 2016/800, Arts 4(1), 5(1), 6 and 15(4))

   (see paragraphs 153, 155, 158, operative part 3)

6. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/800 – Right to information – Provision providing for the right of a child who is a suspect or accused person to be informed about his or her rights and about the conduct of the proceedings – Direct effect

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2016/800, Art. 4(1))

   (see paragraph 157)

7. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/800 – Remedies – National legislation not allowing a court to declare that incriminating evidence contained in statements made by a child during questioning which was conducted in breach of the right of access to a lawyer is inadmissible – Whether permissible – Conditions

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 47 and 48(2); European Parliament and Council Directives 2012/13, 2013/48, Art. 12(2), 2016/343, Art. 10(2), and 2016/800, Arts 4, 6, and 19)

   (see paragraphs 165-174, 176, operative part 4)

See the text of the decision.