Press Release: Fair trials: MEPs strengthen EU-wide standards for legal aid

This draft directive is one in a package of proposals to further strengthen procedural rights for citizens in criminal proceedings. They include others on safeguards for children, and another on the presumption of innocence.The European Parliament's civil liberties committee approved on 06 May 2015 an amendment to the European Commission's proposal on procedural safeguards for citizens in criminal proceedings.

The members of this committee defended that people who are suspected or accused of a crime, or are named in a European Arrest Warrant, but cannot afford a lawyer or court proceedings, should have access to EU member state funding and assistance for both 'provisional' and 'ordinary' legal aid.

The committee vote gave the rapporteur a mandate to start negotiations with the Council of the European Union, with a view to agreeing on the proposed directive. The trialogue talks should start right afterwards.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The Right to… - a Fair Trial! Commission wants more safeguards for citizens in criminal proceedings http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-the-right-to-a-fair-trial-commission-wants-more-safeguards-for-citizens-in-criminal-proceedings/

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