Memo: Another landmark of the procedural rights agenda has been met: European Parliament adopts Commission proposal on access to a lawyer

A new law to guarantee the rights of all citizens to be advised by a lawyer when facing criminal proceedings received the backing of the European Parliament plenary on 10 September 2013. The proposal was adopted with an overwhelming majority (with 661 votes in favour, 29 against and 8 abstentions).

The new law means that anyone who is a suspect – no matter where they are in the European Union – will be guaranteed the right to see a lawyer from the earliest stages of proceedings until their conclusion. The new rules also ensure that anyone arrested has the opportunity to communicate with their family. If they are in another EU country, citizens would have the right to be in contact with their country’s consulate.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Memo: Another piece of the procedural rights puzzle to fall into place: Parliamentary committee votes to back Commission proposal on access to a lawyer http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-another-piece-of-the-procedural-rights-puzzle-to-fall-into-place-parliamentary-committee-votes-to-back-commission-proposal-on-access-to-a-lawyer/

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