Editor PeterMcNamee

Editorial Board SimoneCuomo AntoineFobe SieglindeGamsjaumlger KarineMeacutetayer PeterMcNamee AlonzoHernaacutendez-PinzoacutenEditorial Secretaries AlexandreMaheacute (translator) SophieTestaert(layout)

CCBE-INFO-Europeanlawyers

promoting law amp justice -

-Les avocats europeacuteens pourledro itamplajusti ce-

Content Followuson

November2012Ndeg31

CourtofJusticeoftheEuropeanUnionDecisiononin-housecounsel 2PermanentDelegationtotheCourtsinLuxembourg(PDLux) 2 RulesofProcedure 2 PracticaladviceforAdvocatesbeforetheCourtofJustice 2 DraftaccessiontotheECHR 2Independentstudyoneconomicsignificanceoflegalservices 3Accesstojustice 3 ConferenceonlsquoJusticeinausteritychallengesandopportunities foraccesstojusticersquo 3Anti-moneylaundering 4 ProposalforanewAnti-MoneyLaunderingDirective 4 Michaudcase 4 FATFConsultation 4CorporateSocialResponsibility 5CouncilofEurope 5 CEPEJreportevaluatingthefunctioningoftheEuropeanjudicial systems 5 CCBErsquos117thPlenarySessionwillbehostedbytheEuropean CourtofHumanRights 5Criminallaw 6 Accesstoalawyerincriminalproceedings 6EuropeanPrivateLaw 6 EuropeanlawyerswelcometheCommonEuropeanSalesLawproposal andsuggestwiderscope 6FamilyampSuccessionsLaw 7 Adoptedregulationoninternationalsuccessions 7 Propertyrightsofinternationalcouples 8ITLaw 8 Europeanlawyerscallforasingleandcomprehensivedata protectionregime 8 CCBEadoptsguidelinesontheuseofcloudcomputingservices bylawyers 9 CloudcomputingontheEUagenda 9 Cross-bordere-identificationande-signatureservices 10 AdoptionDirectiveontheinterconnectionofbusinessregisters 10PECO 11 Slovenia 11 Croatia 11 CouncilofEuropeReportldquoTheProfessionofLawyerrdquo 11Projects 11 Find-A-Lawyerproject 11 e-CODEX 12 Futuree-Justiceprojects 12ContactswiththeCyprusPresidencyoftheEuropeanUnion 12

ccbe-infondeg312012

2

Court of Justice of the European Union Decision on in-house counselOn6September 2012 theCourt of Justice of theEuropeanUnionexpressed its viewson the standing of in-house counsel before theLuxembourgCourts(seedecision) APolishentity(thePolishtelecom-municationsregulator)wasrepresentedbeforetheGeneralCourtbyitsin-houselegaladvisorswhichhadanemploymentrelationshipwiththe entity (Legal Advisors have a right of audience before Polishcourts ) The General Court considered that this fell short from therequirementinArticle19oftheStatuteoftheCourtofJustice(whichrequires representation by a lsquolawyerrsquo) theGeneral Courtrsquos decisionwasappealedtotheCourtofJusticewhichndashconcurringwiththeviewsoftheGeneralCourt-statedinteraliathatldquoTherequirementofinde-pendenceofalawyerimpliesthattheremustbenoemploymentrela-

tionshipbetweenthelawyerandhisclient(hellip)rdquoandthatldquoAlthough(hellip)theconceptionofthelawyerrsquosroleinthelegalorderoftheEuropeanUnionderivesfromthelegaltraditionscommontotheMemberStatesinthecontextofdis-putesbroughtbeforetheCourtsoftheEuropeanUnionthatconceptionisimplementedobjectivelyandisneces-sarilyindependentfromthenationallegalorders rdquo

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactSieglindeGamsjaeger(gamsjaegerccbe eu)

Permanent Delegation to the Courts in Luxembourg (PD Lux)

Rules of Procedure

TheCCBEwasinvitedbytheGeneralCourttosuggestchangestothecurrentRulesofProcedureoftheGeneralCourt TheCCBEpreparedcomprehensivecommentswhichithopestheGeneralCourtwilltakeintoaccount

TheCourtofJusticehasreviseditsRulesofProcedure ThenewRuleswilltakeeffectfrom1stNovember2012 TheCCBEalsosubmittedextensivecommentstotheCourtofJusticethroughout2011whentheCourtofJusticewasintheprocessofamendingitsRulesofProcedure

Practical advice for Advocates before the Court of Justice

TheCCBEhaspreparedsomepracticaladvicefor lawyersappearingbeforetheCourtofJustice TheadviceisaddressedprincipallytothoseappearingforthefirsttimeintheCourtofJusticeoftheEU Ithasbeendraftedinordertoenhancetheefficiencyofthepreliminaryreferenceprocedure TheadviceisdesignedtocomplementtheCourtrsquosownguidancesetoutontheCourtrsquoswebsiteundertheheadingldquoProcedurerdquoandinparticular in the Notes for the Guidance of Counsel httpcuria europa eujcmsuploaddocsapplicationpdf2008-09txt9_2008-09-25_17-37-52_275 pdf

SeealsoAdvice toCounselathttpcuria europa eujcmsjcmsJo2_12354conseils-aux-plaideursandtheInformationNoteonReferencesfromNationalCourtsforapreliminaryruling httpeur-lex europa euLexUriServLexUriServ douri=OJC201116000010005ENPDF

Theadviceaddressesthreeareasbull Writtenpleadingsbull Oralpleadingsbull Practicalissues

Draft accession to the ECHR

UpontheaccessionoftheEUtotheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights(ECHR)itisproposedthattherebeaprocedurewhichpermitstheECHRtosubmitquestionsofEUlawtotheCourtofJusticepriortotheEuropeanCourtofHumanRightsgivingjudgmentinanyparticularcase ThisaspectisofconcerntotheCCBE TheCCBEsubmitteda letter toMsLuisellaPavan-Woolfe (AmbassadorHeadofDelegationof theEuropeanUnion to theCouncilofEurope)seekinginformationwithregardtotheEUnegotiatingpositionontheproceduralissuessurround-ingsuchquestionsndashwhatisthepositionoflitigantsintheparticularcaseandwhataretheirremedies Following

ccbe-infondeg312012

3

thelettertheCCBEwillmeetwiththeCommissiontodiscusstheissueinfurtherdetail

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactPeterMcNamee(mcnameeccbe eu)

Independent study on economic significance of legal servicesAnindependentstudycommissionedbytheCCBEwasrecentlypublishedonassess-ingtheeconomicsignificanceofthelegalservicessectorintheEuropeanUnion ThisstudywasconductedbyProfessorGeorgeYarrowDirectorof theldquoRegulatoryPolicyInstituterdquoinOxford

Thestudyconcludesthattheinstitutionsandlawsofalegalsystemconditionanddeter-mine economic performance Institutions that are stable and credible facilitate eco-nomic development and lead to higher levels of economic activity Lawyers activelycontribute through their everyday actions and conduct to both the shapeof a legalsystemandhoweffectivelyitoperatesandfunctions

Thestudyemphasisestheimportantrelationshipbetweenlegalservicesandeconomicperformancewhichstemsfromtheimportantrolethatlawyersrsquoservicesplaybeyondthelegalservicesmarketinitselfinfacilitatingandsustainingmarketsandmarketgrowth

Thecoreactivityoftheprofessionallegalservicessectortendstoexpandmarketactivitythroughouttheeconomyandthereforecloselybelinkedtoeconomicperformanceandgrowth Thestudyinfersfromthispointthatprofes-sionallegalservicesmarketsthemselvesshouldfunctioneffectivelyandthatpotential(regulatory)reformsthatcouldaffectthequalityorquantityoflegalservicesrequirecarefulassessmentinconceptualandanalyticalframeworksthatarebroadenoughtoencompassthewidereconomiceffects

ThestudyisavailableontheCCBEwebsitehttpwww ccbe eufileadminuser_uploadNTCdocumentRPI_study_Yarrow_D1_1348650358 pdf

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobeccbe eu)

Access to justice

Conference on lsquoJustice in austerity challenges and opportunities for access to justicersquo

On6-7December2012theEuropeanParliamentandtheFundamentalRightsAgencyof theEuropeanUnion (FRA)areholding their annualhumanrightsconferenceinBrusselsonlsquoJusticeinausteritychallengesand opportunities for access to justicersquo Marcella Prunbauer-GlaserCCBEPresidentwillparticipateinthepaneladdressingthequestionofwhether thecurrentcrisisoffersopportunitiesforreform Therewillbeworkshopsontopicsofinterestfortheprofessionincludingonensuringaccess to legal aid andaccess to a lawyer onmediationandon theopportunitiesofferedbye-technologies TheCCBEhasrecommendedspeakers forworkshops Theorganisersof theconferencewelcomeawiderepresentationofCCBEmembers

MoreinformationonthiseventcanbefoundhereontheFRArsquoswebsite

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobeccbe eu)

ProfessorGeorgeYarrowDirectorofthe

ldquoRegulatoryPolicyInstituterdquo

ccbe-infondeg312012

4

Anti-money laundering

Proposal for a new Anti-Money Laundering Directive

TheEuropeanCommissionaimstopresentaproposalforanewAnti-MoneyLaunderingDirectivetowardstheendofNovember2012 InJulytheCommissionsubmitteditsimpactassessmentontheexistingDirective TheimpactassessmentisnotpubliclyavailableatthisstageasitwillonlybemadeavailableatthesametimeastheCommissionproposalispublished TheCCBEhassentanumberofpaperstotheCommissionregardingtheproblemswiththecurrentDirectiveandsuggestionsfor theforthcomingDirective It isexpectedthat therevisedDirectivewillalsoincorporatethechangesmadetotheRevisedFATF40Recommendationsthatwereconcludedon16February

Michaud case

InJanuary2011aFrenchlawyerPatrickMichaudtookacasetotheEuropeanCourtofHumanRightstocomplainaboutthe lackofconformitywiththeConventionbetweentherulesonsuspiciousreportingandtheright to legaladvice This is the first case before theStrasbourgCourt on the question of compatibility between the lawyerrsquosreportingdutiesunderthemoneylaunderinglegislationandArticle8oftheEuropeanConventionofHumanRights TheCCBEhasbeenadmittedasaninterveningpartyinthiscaseandtheCCBEinterventionwassenttotheCourtofHumanRightsinMarch On2Octoberahearingtookplaceontheadmissibilityoftheproceedings Adecisiononadmissibilitywillbeissuedatalaterstage

FATF Consultation

TheFinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)hasstartedanewtypologyprojectthatwilllookatMoneyLaunderingandTerroristFinancingvulnerabilitieswithregardtothelegalprofession TheFATFpreparedaquestionnairewhichisaimedspecificallyatthelegalprofession Thequestionnairedealswith

bull Theapplicationofanti-moneylaunderingrequirementsbull Perceptionsofriskandadvicetomembersbull Supervisionofmembersandethicalexpectationsbull RelationshipswithFinancialIntelligenceUnits

On4OctobertheCCBEsentthequestionnairetodelegationsinvitingmemberBarsandLawSocietiestorespond ItisbelievedthatitisbestthateachnationalBarandLawSocietycompletesthequestionnaireasthequestionsrequireresponsesfromanationalperspective TheFATFhasrequestedthatrepliesbesentbeforethedeadlineof2November2012

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactPeterMcNamee(mcnameeccbe eu)

ccbe-infondeg312012

5

Corporate Social ResponsibilityGiventhedevelopmentsattheinternationalEuropeanandnationalleveltheCommitteeonCSRisintheprocessofupdatingitsinformatoryguidelines Therevisedguidelineswilladdressbull NewCSRdevelopmentsbull WhylawyerslawfirmsbarsandlawsocietieshavetodealwithCSR(includingadviceonCSR)bull CSR for the legalprofession (including lawyersassuppliersofserviceslaw firmsbarsand lawsocietiesas

ldquoenterprisesrdquooutlineoftheessentialelementsoftheresponsibilityofthelegalprofession)

TherevisedguidelinesareexpectedtobepresentedforapprovaltotheFebruary2013StandingCommittee

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactPeterMcNamee(mcnameeccbe eu)

Council of Europe

CEPEJ report evaluating the functioning of the European judicial systems

IntheframeworkoftheConferenceofMinistersofJusticeoftheCouncilofEurope(ViennaAustria20September) theEuropeanCommissionfortheEfficiencyofJustice(CEPEJ)proceededtotheofficialpublicationof its 2012 report ldquoEuropean judicial systemsrdquo This report provides adetailedandcomparativepictureofthedailyoperationsof judicialsys-temsin46EuropeanstatesandgivesaviewofthemaintrendsoftheevolutionofjudicialpoliciesinEurope

FoundedtenyearsagotheaimoftheCEPEJistheimprovementoftheefficiencyandfunctioningofjusticeinthememberStatesandthedevelopmentoftheimplementationoftheinstrumentsadoptedbytheCouncilofEuropetothisend SinceitsinceptiontheCCBEhasbeenanobservermemberoftheCEPEJ ItattendsallplenarymeetingswhichareheldtwiceayearinStrasbourg(France)attheseatoftheCouncilofEurope

Documentsbull EvaluationreportonEuropeanjudicialsystemsbull Appendixadditionaltablesbull Erratabull OverviewoftheevaluationreportofEuropeanjudicialsystemsbull Repliesbycountry

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactSimoneCuomo(cuomoccbe eu)

CCBErsquos 117th Plenary Session will be hosted by the European Court of Human Rights

ForthefirsttimeEuropeanCourtofHumanRightswillhostournextPlenarySessionon30NovemberinStrasbourg Thisistobeseenin the context of a CCBE effort to develop its relations with theStrasbourgCourt DeanSpielmannthenewlyelectedPresidentoftheCourtwilldeliverawelcomespeech

ThePlenarySessionwillbeprecededonThursdayafternoonbyaroundtablewhichwill address the following three topics the rele-vanceof theEuropeanConvention onHumanRights in businesslawtheroleoflawyersinjudicialproceedingsbeforetheEuropeanCourtofHumanRightsrecentinstitutionaldevelopmentsinbringingthe European Union into the European Convention on HumanRightssystem

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobeccbe eu)

ccbe-infondeg312012

6

Criminal law

Access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings

TheCriminalLawCommitteehasbeenfollowingdevelopmentsregardingtheCommissionproposalontherightofaccess to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and on the right to communicate upon arrest In June 2011 theCommissionpresenteditsproposalwhichisthethirdinalineofmeasurescalledforbytheEUCounciltoensurethatcitizenshavethesamebasicrights intheirdealingswithcriminal justicesystemsregardlessoftheMemberStatewheretheyaresuspectedoraccusedofhavingcommittedacriminaloffence

On8June2012theCouncil(MemberStatelevel)agreedaldquoGeneralapproachrdquo(similartoacommonposition) TheGeneralApproachreflectstheCouncilrsquosviewandhasbeensenttotheCommissionandParliament Therel-evantCommitteeintheParliamentadopteditspositionon12JulywhichismainlyinlinewiththeCCBErsquoswishes ThethreeEUinstitutionsnowhavetheirposition(theCommissionpositioniscontainedintheiroriginalproposalofJune2011) Todatetwotrilogues(discussionsbetweentheCouncilParliamentandCommission)havetakenplacewithanumberoffurthertriloguesscheduled

TheCriminalLawCommitteeisfeedingintothediscussionsinordertoensurethatapositiveoutcomeisreachedandtheCCBEwillmaintainitsregularcontactwiththeParliamentandCommissionandcontinuetocommunicateitspositiontotheCouncil

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactPeterMcNamee(mcnameeccbe eu)

European Private Law

European lawyers welcome the Common European Sales Law proposal and suggest wider scope

Initspositionpaperadoptedon7September2012theCCBEexpresseditssupportfortheproposedRegulationonaCommonEuropeanSalesLaw(CESL)andcalledontheEUinstitutionstoadoptitwithanenlargedscope

ldquoTheproposalreflectsanumberofimportantlegalprinciplesunderlinedbytheCCBEandisausefullegalinstru-mentrdquo said theCCBEPresidentMarcellaPrunbauer-Glaser ldquoWeseeno reason to limit thescopeof theCESLRegulationtocross-bordersalesandtoSMEsasisthecasewiththeproposalrdquosheadded

InparticulartheCCBEwelcomedthefactthattheproposalisverymuchinlinewithitssuggestionsthatweremadeina number of its prior position papers For instance inrespectofensuringfreedomofcontractasaguidingprinci-pleunderlying theCESLprovidingcommon listsofunfairandpotentiallyunfaircontractterms(includingforbusiness-to-business transactions) and including the concept ofldquoindividuallynegotiatedrdquocontracttermswhichexcludestheapplicabilityoftheunfairnesstestinthosecaseswherethepartieswereabletoinfluencethetermsofthecontract

ldquoWithregardtothemeaningofldquounfairrdquoincontractsbetweentradersitwouldbeusefultoalsoincludeareferencetotheunderlying ldquolegal principlesrdquo fromwhich the standard con-tracttermsmaynotgrosslydeviateasafurtherbenchmarkoftheunfairnesstestrdquoMarcellaPrunbauer-Glasersaid

Regardingthewordingofthetext inordertooptimisethepractical interest of the CESL the CCBE recommendedclarifying somegeneral conceptsopen to interpretation (e g lsquogood faithand fair dealingrsquo lsquoreasonablenessrsquo) andcarefullyverifyingtheconsistencyoftheterminologyusedthroughoutthetextandbetweenthedifferentlinguisticversions

ccbe-infondeg312012

7

TheCCBEhadissuedanearlierpreliminarypositionpaperontheproposedCESLinwhichitcalledupontheEUinstitutionstoengageinanin-depthanalysisoftheappropriatenessofthelegalbasischosenbytheCommissionandtherelationshipoftheproposalwithArticle6oftheRegulationonthelawapplicabletocontractualobligations(ldquoRomeIrdquo)

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactSimoneCuomo(cuomoccbe eu)

Family amp Successions Law

Adopted regulation on international successions

On8JunetheJusticeandHomeAffairsCounciladoptedtheRegulationonjurisdictionapplicablelawrecognitionandenforcementofdecisionsandauthenticinstrumentsinmattersofsuccessionandthecreationofaEuropeanCertificateofSuccessionclearingthewayforittobecomelaw Thetexthasalreadybeenpublishedintheofficialjournalandiscurrentlyavailableatthislink

TheCCBEissatisfiedwiththeadoptedtextasitreflectsthemostimportantissuesfortheCCBE InparticulartheCCBEwelcomestherecognitionthatinsomeMemberStateslegallybindinginstrumentsinmattersofsuccessionaredrawnupbylegalprofessionalsotherthannotariessincenoteveryMemberStatehasanotarialsystem ldquoThishasalwaysbeenakeypointfortheCCBErdquosaidtheCCBEPresidentMarcellaPrunbauer-Glaser ldquoFreemovementmustbenefitallEUcitizenswhoinvokethestatusandeffectofalegallybindinginstrumentinmattersofsuccessionestablishedunderthenationallawofaMemberStaterdquosheadded

ldquoEvenifwewouldhavepreferredamoreprecisedefinitionoflsquohabitualresidencersquoasconnectingfactorthenewlawwillbringmorelegalcertaintytothemanyfamiliesconfrontedwithinternationalsuccessionsinEuroperdquotheCCBEPresidentMarcellaPrunbauer-Glaserstated

InitspositiontothislegislativeproposaltheCCBEhadwelcomedtheinitiativeoftheCommissiontoproposeanidenticalconnectingfactorconcerningjurisdictionandapplicablelawndashthedeceasedrsquoshabitualplaceofresidencendashandasingleschemefortheestateasawholeinordertoavoidthesystemofscission TheCCBEhadalsosup-portedtheCommissionrsquosintentiontoreducethepresentpossibilitiesforforumshoppingandtoprovidelegalcer-taintyincrossbordersuccessioncases

ThenewlawalsopavesthewayfortheintroductionoftheEuropeanCertificateofSuccessionwhichshouldresultinfasterandcheaperprocedures

Thenewregulationwillbedirectlyapplicable inallEUmemberstatesexceptDenmarkwhichhasanopt-out inmattersconcerningjusticeandhomeaffairsandtheUnitedKingdomandIrelandwhichdidnotoptintotheinitialproposalwithinthethreemonthssetoutinArticle3oftheProtocolonthepositiononthosetwomemberstates ThenewRegulationwillstartapplyingthreeyearsafteritsentryintoforce

ccbe-infondeg312012

8

Property rights of international couples

DuringitsStandingCommitteeon7SeptembertheCCBEadopteditspositionontheproposalsforCouncilregula-tions on jurisdiction applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of decisions inmatters ofmatrimonialpropertyregimes(COM(2011)1262)andregardingpropertyconsequencesofregisteredpartnerships(COM(2011)1272)

InMarch2012JusticeCommissionerVivianeRedingpresentedthesetwodraftregulationswhichweremeanttofacilitatelegalproceduresincasesconcerningcross-borderownership OneregulationconcernsEuropeanorinter-nationalmarriedcoupleswithpropertyinanEUstateotherthantheirstateoforiginandtheotherregulationreg-isteredcouplesalthoughonly14memberstatesrecogniseunionsotherthanmarriage WiththeseproposalstheEuropeanCommissionaimstobringlegalclaritytopropertyrightsformarriedinternationalcouplesandforregis-teredpartnershipswithaninternationaldimension InitspositiontheCCBEwelcomestheseproposalsandproposessomeamendmentsinordertoallowbettermove-mentofpersonswithgreaterlegalcertainty

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactSimoneCuomo(cuomoccbe eu)

IT Law

European lawyers call for a single and comprehensive data protection regime

On7SeptembertheCCBEadopteditspositiononthedataprotectionreformpackageproposedbytheEuropeanCommissioninJanuary2012andconsistingofbull aGeneralDataProtectionRegulation (replacingDirective9546EC)settingoutageneralEU framework for

dataprotectionandbull aDirective(replacingFrameworkDecision2008977JHA)settingoutrulesontheprotectionofpersonaldata

processed for the purposes of prevention detection investigation or prosecution of criminal offences andrelatedjudicialactivities

InitspositiontheCCBEcalledontheEUinstitutionstocreateasinglecomprehensiveandhighleveldataprotectionregimeratherthanhavingtwo separate regimes for civil matters and law enforcement mattersrespectively ldquoWeregretthattheCommissiondidnotchoosetoextendthegeneraldataprotectionrulestotheareasofpoliceandjudicialcoopera-tion incriminalmattersrdquosaid theCCBEPresidentMarcellaPrunbauer-Glaser Sheadded ldquoLike theEuropeanDataProtectionSupervisorwebelievethattheprocessingofdataintheareasofpoliceandjudicialcoop-eration in criminalmatters requiresat leastasmuchprotectionaspro-vided under the proposed Regulation and not less under a separateDirectivegiventhespecificrisksforcitizens rdquo

RegardingtheproposedGeneralDataProtectionRegulationtheCCBEmadesomecommentsbasedontheneedtorespectprofessionalsecrecyandindependenceascorevaluesofthelawyersrsquoprofessiontosafeguardtherightsofcitizensandself-regulationasacorollaryofindependence ldquoOurprofessionprofoundlyrespectsthefundamentalrighttotheprotectionofpersonaldataandtheCCBEawareofitsresponsibilitiesinthisareahasissuedrecom-mendationsforbestpracticetoitsmembers HoweversomeoftheprovisionscontainedinthedraftRegulationdonotsufficientlytakeintoaccounttheguaranteesalreadyofferedbylawyerstotheirclientstheroleofBarsandLawSocietiesasregulatorsoftheprofessionandthepracticalproblemscreatedforlawyersinlightoftheprofessionalsecrecytowhichtheyareboundrdquosaidMarcellaPrunbauer-Glaser

Thisreformisafollow-uptothepublicconsultationwhichtheEuropeanCommissionheldinNovember2010follow-ing the publication of its Communication called ldquoA comprehensive approach on personal data protection in theEuropeanUnionrdquo InitsresponsetothatconsultationtheCCBEurgedtheEuropeaninstitutionstotakeintoaccountanumberofguidelineswhenshapingEuropersquoslegalframeworkonthefundamentalrighttoprotectionofpersonaldata

ccbe-infondeg312012

9

CCBE adopts guidelines on the use of cloud computing services by lawyers

DuringtheStandingCommitteeon7September2012theCCBEadoptedasetofguidelinesontheuseofcloudcomputingservicesby lawyers Cloudcomputing isageneral term for IT infrastructure that involvesstoringand

processing data and software remotely in the cloud providerrsquos data centre orinterlinkedcentresaccessedasaservicebyusingtheInternet Alongsidemanysignificantbenefitscloudcomputingalsobrings itsownsetof risksandchal-lengesforlawyersmostsignificantlyinrelationfirsttoquestionsofdataprotec-tion second to professional obligations of confidentiality and third to otherprofessionalandregulatoryobligationsincumbentonthelawyer

TheCCBE believes it is imperative that lawyerswhen considering deployingcloudcomputingintheirofficestakenecessarystepstoensurethattheconcernsidentifiedinthepaperareadequatelyaddressed Neverthelesslikeotherconsu-mers lawyerswilloftennotknowenoughtobecertainthatsecuritymeasuresaresufficient WithinthiscontexttheCCBEhasdevelopedthissetofguidelines

ontheuseofcloud-computingservicesbylawyers TheCCBEguidelinesareintendedtomakelawyersmoremind-fulofthevariousrisksassociatedwithcloudcomputingandtoassisttheminmakinginformedtechnologydecisions

Assuchtheguidelinesincluderecommendationsastothetypeofprecautionarymeasureslawyersneedtotakewhenconsideringtheuseofcloudcomputingsuchas

bull Preliminaryexaminationofcloudcomputingservicese g theexperiencereputationregisteredaddressprovi-dersrsquosolvencyreliabilityownershipandcapitaladequacylocalisationofthestoringservers

bull Comparingexistingin-houseITinfrastructurewithcloudservices bull Assessmentofabilitytorecoverdataintheeventofthefailureofthecloudserviceproviderfailureofthelaw

firmorcontractualdisputebetweentheproviderandlawfirm bull Contractualprecautionse g systemavailabilitydeadlines forerrorcorrectionsandremovalofmalfunctions

exclusionofengagementofsub-contractorswithoutpriorconsentownershipofdatastoredandexclusiverightofaccessnon-disclosureobligationsback-updisasterrecoverycontingencyplanapplicablelawandjurisdic-tion

bull Transparencyinsomejurisdictionsalawyersmaybeunderadutytoseekclientconsent

Cloud computing on the EU agenda

CloudcomputinghasalsobeenpartoftheDigitalAgendaoftheEuropeanCommissionandon27SeptemberthecloudcomputingstrategywaspublishedinaCommunicationcalledlsquoUnleashingthepotentialofcloudcomputinginEuropersquo Keyactionsofthestrategyinclude

bull Standards and certification development oftechnicalstandardssothatcloudusersenjoyinteroperabilitydataportabilityand reversibi-lity

bull SafeandFairContractTermsandConditionsdevelopmentofmodelcontracttermstocoverissuessuchasdatapreservationafter termi-nation of the contract data disclosure andintegritydatalocationandtransferownershipofthedatadirectandindirectliabilitychangeofservicebycloudprovidersandsubcontrac-ting

bull EstablishingaEuropeanCloudPartnershiptodrive innovation and growth from the publicsector driving the first steps towards betterpublic procurement of cloud services inEurope based on common definitions ofrequirementsandpossiblyeventuallygoingasfarasjointprocurementacrossborders

TheITLawCommitteeiscloselyfollowinganydevelopmentinthisareathatmaybeusefulforlawyerstocomplywiththeirregulatoryrequirementssuchassafeandfairstandardcontracttermsandconditions

ccbe-infondeg312012

10

Cross-border e-identification and e-signature services

TheEuropeanCommissionpublisheditsproposalforaRegulationldquoonelectronicidentificationandtrustedservicesforelectronic transactions in the internalmarketrdquo Theproposalwillnowgo through theordinary legislativepro-cedureforitsadoptionbyco-decisionoftheEuropeanParliamentandtheCouncil

ThisRegulationisintendedtobeacomprehensivecross-borderandcross-sectorframeworkforsecuretrustworthyandeasy-to-useelectronictransactionsthatencompasseselectronicidentificationauthenticationandsignatures

Amongotherthingsthenewframeworkforelectronicidentificationandelectronictrustserviceswill

bull Ensuremutualrecognitionandacceptanceofelectronicidentificationacrossbordersbull Givelegaleffectandmutualrecognitiontotrustservicesincludingenhancingcurrentrulesone-signaturesand

providinga legal framework forelectronic seals timestampingelectronicdocumentacceptabilityelectronicdeliveryandwebsiteauthentication

ThisRegulationisbeingproposedinthecontextoftheDigitalAgendaforEuropeandasafollow-uptotheconsul-tationthatwaslaunchedbytheEuropeanCommissioninFebruary2011regardingelectronicidentificationauthen-ticationandsignatures TheCCBErepliedtothatconsultationbysubmittingageneralresponseraisingsomegen-eral issuesandpointsof concern from the legalprofessionrsquospointofview

Thecurrentproposalrepresentsthefirstmilestoneintheimplementa-tionoftheobjectivesoftheLegislationTeam(eIDAS)TaskForcesetupbytheCommissioninordertodeliverapredictableregulatoryenviron-mentforelectronicidentificationandtrustservicesforelectronictrans-actionsintheinternalmarkettoboosttheuserconveniencetrustandconfidenceinthedigitalworld

TheITLawCommitteeiscurrentlyreviewingthisproposalandworkingonaCCBEpositionpaperwhichshouldbeadopted in thecourseof2012

Adoption Directive on the interconnection of business registers

On10MaytheCounciladoptedadirectivesettingupasystemfortheinterconnectionofcentralcommercialandcompanyregistersaimedatimprovingaccesstoup-to-dateandtrustworthyinformationoncompanies

UnderthenewdirectiveallEUmemberstatesengageinenablingelectroniccommunicationbetweenregistersandtransmittinginformationtoindividualusersinastandardisedwaybymeansofidenticalcontentandinteroperabletechnologiesthroughouttheEU

The interoperabilityof registersshouldbeensured through theMemberStatesrsquodeliveryof information fromtheirregistersbyprovidingserviceswhichwillconstituteinterfacestoaEuropeancentralplatform Thisplatformwillbeacentralisedsetofinformationtechnologytoolsandservicesusedbyalldomesticregisters TheEuropeane-Jus-ticePortalwillserveasoneoftheelectronicaccesspoints Companiesandtheirbranchesinothermemberstateswillhaveauniqueidentifierthatallowsthemtobeunequiv-ocallyidentified

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactSimoneCuomo(cuomoccbe eu)

ccbe-infondeg312012

11

PECO

Slovenia

On27August2012theCCBEsentalettertotheSlovenianauthoritiestoexpressitscon-cernabouttheintentionoftheSloveniangovernmenttoabolishmandatorymembershipintheBarandtotransfercertaincompetenciesoftheBartostateorstate-influencedauthori-ties TheCCBEstressedtheimportanceofmandatorymembershipasapre-requisiteofaself-regulatedandproperlyindependentBar IturgedtheSloveniangovernmentnottocon-siderabolishingmandatoryBarmembership

Croatia

InSeptember2012theCroatianBarAssociationaddressedtheCCBEwiththerequesttoassistthelegalprofessionconcerninggovernmentproposalswhichconsidertheintroductionoffiscalcashregistersforlawyers InalettertothePrimeMinisterandtheMinisterofJusticeof the Republic of Croatia the CCBE expressed its concern about these proposals itexplainedthatsuchfiscalcashregisterswouldbecontrarytoindependenceoftheprofes-sionandtheywouldputatriskthelawyerrsquosdutytoprofessionalsecrecywhichisessentialtoeverylawyer-clientrelationship

Council of Europe Report ldquoThe Profession of Lawyerrdquo

InMay2012theCouncilofEuropereleasedtheReportldquoTheProfessionofLawyerrdquo ThisReportfocusesonissuessuchastheroleofBarAssociationsaccesstotheprofessionoflawyerinitialandcontinuoustrainingoflawyersdisciplinaryliabilityoflawyers Thereportalsocontainsanoverviewofdevelopmentsandmaintrendsmainobsta-cles and recommendations for implementation of the European standards in theEastern Partnership countriesnamelyArmeniaAzerbaijanGeorgiaMoldovaUkraineandBelarusasregardstheprofessionoflawyer

ThisReportistheresultoftheCouncilofEuropeEuropeanUnionJointProgrammeentitledldquoEnhancingjudicialreformintheEasternPartnershipcountriesrdquolaunchedon11March2011 ItsaimwastopromotetheimplementationofEuropeanstandardsonindependenceprofessionalismandefficiencyofthejudiciaryinsixbeneficiarycountries

CCBE experts participated in the meetings of working groups that analysed whether the laws in the EasternPartnership countries are up toEuropean standards Theymeasured themagainst theUNbasic principles theConventionofHumanRightstheCouncilofEuroperecommendationsonlawyerstheCCBECodeofConductandotherrelevantinstruments

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactSieglindeGamsjaeger(gamsjaegerccbe eu)

Projects

Find-A-Lawyer project

TheFind-A-Lawyer (FAL)projectendedon4April2012 TheEuropeanCommission (EC)approved the final report presentedby theCCBEonFALinAugust2012 Atthetimeofcompletion16barswereupandrun-ning and othersweremaking the necessary technical arrangements tointegrate their national solutions into theFALSearchEngine (FALSE) RecentlytheItalianbarhascompleteditsintegrationintheFALSEanditisexpectedthatinduecoursemoreGreekbarswilljointheAthensbarwhichisalreadyintegratedinFALSE AlthoughFALhasldquoofficiallyrdquoended(sincethecontractwiththeEuropeanCommissioncametoanend)the

CCBEiscontinuingtoprovideforthosenationalbarswhicharenotcurrentlyinFALtheopportunitytojoinit TheEChasstartedtobuildtheFALSEintheEuropeane-Justiceportal

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactAlonsoHernaacutendez-Pinzoacuten(pinzonccbe eu)

ccbe-infondeg312012

12

e-CODEX

Thee-CODEXprojectwhichisagovernment-ledEU-fundedprojecttolinknationale-justicesystemsinEuropeisapproachingitspilotphase Duringthispilotphase(scheduledtostartinJanuary2013)reallifescenarioswillbetestedextensively Uponcompletionofthepilotphaseanevaluationwillbedoneandfurtheradaptationswillbeundertakenbeforemakingthesystemavailable ThepilotphasewillstartwiththetestingoftwocivilusescasesthesmallclaimsprocedureandtheEuropeanPaymentorder TheCCBEisgladtoseethatsofarlawyershavebeenfullyintegratedintothesetrialcasesasmainactorsine-justiceapplications

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactAlonsoHernaacutendez-Pinzoacuten(pinzonccbe eu)

Future e-Justice projects

TheEuropeanCommissionhaspublisheditsldquoImplementingDecisionontheawardingofactiongrantsforspecifictransnationalandnationalprojectswithintheframeofthespecificCriminalJusticeprogramme(callforproposals2011-2012)rdquo AccordingtothisDecisiontwoCCBEproposalsfordevelopinge-JusticeprojectshavebeenawardedFind-A-Lawyer2(FAL2)andtheEuropeanTrainingPlatform(ETP)

TheobjectiveofFAL2istobuildaprototypewhichwillusetheFALSearchEngineasatoolforverifyingtheiden-tityoflawyersine-justiceapplications Whenalawyersignsasalawyer(filingaclaimetc )inane-procedure(e g inasmallclaimsprocedure)thesystemwillcheckwhetheralawyerisgenuinebysearchingFAL FAL2waspre-sentedinthecontextofdevelopmentsinotherECprojectssuchase-CODEX

RegardingETPthisprojectconsistsofbuildinganITplatformthatwillincreasethelevelandaccessibilityofinforma-tiononavailabletrainingcoursesforlegalprofessionals ByprovidingaEuropeanoverviewofrelevanttrainingforthepractitionertheplatformwillpromotetrainingoflegalpractitionerscross-borderandwillthereforehelptopro-mote-atpractitionerlevel-knowledgeofhowEUandnationallawispractisedandadministeredinotherMemberStateswithintheparticularitiesofeachMemberStatersquosjudicialsystem

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactAlonsoHernaacutendez-Pinzoacuten(pinzonccbe eu)

Contacts with the Cyprus Presidency of the European UnionOn 27 August the CCBE met with key contacts on justice issues at thePermanentRepresentation ofCyprus to theEuropeanUnion Themeetingwasanopportunity to learnabout theworkprogrammeandprioritiesof thePresidencyandtoinformthemabouttheCCBErsquosrelevantconcernsandrec-ommendations The discussion particularly revolved around the right ofaccesstoalawyerincriminalproceedingsanti-moneylaunderingdatapro-tection lsquoBrussels Irsquo the patrimonial consequences ofmarriages and regis-teredpartnershipstheproposedCommonEuropeanSalesLawande-identi-ficationine-transactions

TheCypriotPresidencywasrepresentedatourStandingCommitteeof7SeptemberinLimassol(Cyprus)wheretheCyprusAttorneyGeneralMrPetrosCleridesopened thesessionwithapresentationof theprioritiesof thePresidencyintheareaofjustice

ForfurtherquestionspleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobeccbe eu)