Editor: PeterMcNamee

Editorial Board: BirgitBeger AntoineFobe SieglindeGamsjäger KarineMétayer PeterMcNameeEditorial Secretaries: AlexandreMahé (translator) SophieTestaert(layout)

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February2010/N°24

MessagefromtheCCBEPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2CCBEPresidency2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2NewCommissionerforJustice,FundamentalRightsandCitizenship350thanniversaryoftheCCBE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Colloquiumonsecretprofessionnel/legalprofessionalprivilegeinEuropeancase-law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Criminallaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crossborderlegalaidproject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Factsheetsonrightsofdefendants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 CommissionGreenPaperonEvidenceincriminalmatters . . .4 Proceduralsafeguardsforsuspectsanddefendantsin criminalproceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 EuropeanParliamentbreakfastmeeting-TheChallengeof AssessingthePublicInterestinProfessionalServices Regulation:thelawyers’view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Bestpracticesinantitrustproceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Deontology-EnglandandWalesconsultations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 LegalServicesBoard(LSB)consultationonalternative businessstructures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 SolicitorsRegulationAuthority(SRA)secondconsultationon conflictandconfidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6GATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 OECDServicesTradeRestrictionIndex(STRI) . . . . . . . . . . . .6EuropeanContractLaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7EuropeanParliamenthearingofCommissioner-designateVivianeReding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8CCBEHumanRightsAward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8EuropeanCourtofHumanRights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Russia’sratificationofProtocol14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 InterlakenConference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9ITLaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 E-Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Personaldataprotection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Interconnectionofbusinessregisters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Legalaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Moneylaundering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 EuropeanCommissionstudyontheimpactofthemoney launderingDirectivesonthelegalprofession . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 FinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)-Recommendation9 oftheFATF40Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Message from the CCBE PresidentTheyear2010isaspecialyearfortheCCBE,asitwillcommemoratethe50thanniver-saryofthefoundingoftheCCBE .FiftyyearsofbeingthevoiceofthelegalprofessioninaunitedEurope;fiftyyearsofservingnotonlytheinterestsofEuropeanlawyers,butalsothoseofthesocietyforwhichwework;anarduousandlongexperiencewhichen-couragesustocontinuetoworktoupholdtheruleoflaw .

ThisyearalsomarkstheimplementationoftheLisbonTreaty,whichintroducessigni-ficantchangesinthelegalstructureoftheEuropeanUnion,forwhichwearewillingtoprovideour loyalcollaboration .TheCCBEwillensureatall times thatdevelopmentstakeplacewithoutcompromisingtherightsofanyone-notjustlawyers,butalsocitizens-byreachingMEPsandtheEUInstitutionswithourwarningsandvigilance .

TheCCBEisawarethatproperadministrationof,andhighstandardsin,justiceareaguaranteeofdevelopmentandsocialprogress .ThatiswhyweofferourcontributiontothedevelopmentofCommunitylaw,whichisessentialinaworldascomplexasthecur-rentone,whereitisincreasinglydifficultforcitizenstoknowtheirrightsandassertthem .Thisisparticularlytrueintransnationalissuescausedbytheincreasingmovementofpeopleandcapitalandfreeprovisionofservices .

RelyingontheassistanceofalawyerisessentialthroughouttheEU .Theworkoflawyersthroughtheirprofessionalbodiesandnationalbarshasasocialcomponenttoassistdefendants,victims,citizensingeneral,whichtheCCBEcoordinatesandfacilitatesthroughthebenefitsofIT,thuscooperatinginthedevelopmentoftheEuropeanonlineJusticeprogramme(e-Justice) .

IreferyoutotheCCBEwebsite–http://www .ccbe .euwhichwillshowyouthestructureoftheCCBE,itskeypositions,andalso–whatismostimportant–itwillallowyoutobetterunderstandtheinvaluableworkoftheEuropeanlegalprofessiontowardstheconstructionoftheEuropeanUnion .

CCBE Presidency 2010DuringtheNovember2009PlenarySession,José-MaríaDavó-Fernández(Spain)wasvotedinasCCBEPresidentfor2010,withGeorges-AlbertDal (Belgium)asFirstVice-President,andMarcellaPrunbauer-Glaser (Austria)asSecondVice-President .

José-MaríaDavó-Fernández2010CCBEPresident

PECO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 BosniaandHerzegovina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Moldova . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Fiscalcashregisters:SerbiaandFYROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Serbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 FYROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12StockholmProgramme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

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New Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

ThePresidentoftheEuropeanCommission,JoséManuelBarroso,announcedon15September2009,whenseekingEuropeanParliamentsupport forhisre-election,thathewouldsplitCommissionerBarrot’sportfolio intwo,toseparatejusticeandhomeaffairs .Thiswasconfirmedon27Novemberwiththeappoint-mentofVivianeRedingasCommissioner forJustice,FundamentalRightsandCitizenship, and of CeciliaWalström asCommissioner for HomeAffairs . Eversince2003, theCCBEhascalled for theestablishmentofaseparatedirector-ate-generalforJusticeattheCommission .ThesplitofportfoliosisastepintherightdirectionforEuropeasitwillhelpbringmoreattentiontomanyoftheim-portant justice issues inEurope, andavoid that some important justice issuesaredispersedamongvariousotherDGsashasbeenthecasebefore .However,theCCBEbelievesthatthere-organisationshouldnotstopthere,becausedualCommissionerssittingatopacombinedadministrativestaffwithintheexistingDGJustice,FreedomandSecuritydoesnotfullysolvethecontinuingriskoftensionsbetweensecurityconcernsontheonehand,andjusticeandfundamentalrightsontheotherhand,tothedetrimentofthelatter .

Formoreinformation,pleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobe@ccbe .eu) .

50th anniversary of the CCBE2010isthe50thanniversaryyearoftheCCBE .AcolloquiuminJanuaryonsecret professionnel/legalprofessionalprivilege(seebelow)wastheopeningeventofthecelebrations,andtherewillbeothereventsduringtheyear .TheCCBEwillthisyearpublishabooktorecountthetimelinesofthehistoryoftheorganisation,stillyoungandyetal-readyrichwithachievements .Inthebook,theCCBEhasinvitedthepresidentsoftheCourtofJusticeandGeneralCourtoftheEuropeanUniontogiveustheirperspectiveontheroleoflawyersintheadministrationofjustice .WehavealsoaskedtwoprominentformerjudgesandaspecialistresearchertoprovideacriticalanalysisofthewaytheEuropeanlegislatorregulatestheprovisionofservices,andparticularlyoflawyers .Thespecificanniversarydateis10September2010,andonthatoccasioninBasle(wheretheideaoriginatedofcreatingaCommission consultative des Barreaux européens,asitwasthencalled),theCCBEwillholdacolloquiumonthechallengesofthecyber-futureforlawyers .

Formoreinformation,pleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobe@ccbe .eu) .

Colloquium on secret professionnel/legal professional privilege in European case-law

On21-22January, inBrussels, theCCBEandtheBrusselsBar jointlyorganisedacollo-quiumonsecret professionnel/legalprofessionalprivilege(LPP) .ThenationaldelegationstotheCCBEhadprovidedcountryreportsforthisevent,whichhighlightedthedifferencesmainlybetweenthecontinentalandcommonlawsystems .Ageneralconclusionofthecol-loquiumisthatwhatsecret professionnelandLPPhaveincommonisstrongerthanwhatdistinguishesthem,inparticularthroughtheprotectionaffordedtothembyEuropeancase-law .AstheCCBEFirstVice-President,Georges-AlbertDal,pointedoutinhisconclusions,lawyers’organisationshaveeveryinteresttofacilitatethedialoguebetweenthejudgesoftheEUCourtsandthoseoftheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights,tofosteracommonunder-standingofsecret professionnel/LPPacrossEurope,inrespectofthedifferentlegalsystemsandtraditions .TheCCBECodeofConductforEuropeanLawyersandCharterofCorePrin-ciplesoftheEuropeanLegalProfession,headded,areremarkablesteppingstonestowardatrulycommondeontology .ThedocumentsofthecolloquiumwillsoonbeavailableontheCCBEwebsiteatthislink:http://www .ccbe .eu/index .php?id=94&id_comite=7&L=0

Formoreinformation,pleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobe@ccbe .eu) .

Georges-AlbertDALCCBEFirstVice-President

JoséManuelBarrosoPresidentoftheEuropeanCommission

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Criminal law

Cross border legal aid project

InDecember2008,theEuropeanCommissionpublishedaninvitationtotenderforastudyoncross-border legalaid .Thestudyaimedtoanalysewhetheritwouldbepossibletosetupaschemeinordertoassistdefencelawyersworkingoncross-bordercasestocooperatebetterandtofacilitateexchangeofinformationincasesinvolvingmutualrecognitioninstrumentsoruseofthe2000MutualLegalAssistanceConventioninparticular .

InJanuary2009,theCCBEandtheEuropeanCriminalBarAssociation(ECBA)submittedajointapplicationforthestudyandwereinformedinMarch2009thattheirjointapplicationwassuccessful .TheworkontheprojectbeganinApril2009and,aspartoftheproject,theCCBEandECBAorganisedmeetingswithlawyersfromthreejurisdictions–theUK,SpainandAustria,andcirculatedquestionnairesforcompletionby4furtherBars–Lithuania,Sweden,theCzechRepublicandHungary .Theinformationobtainedthroughconsultationhelpedtheprojectpartnerstoreachconclusionsbasedonreal,practicalconcernsasexpressedbydefencepractitioners .ThefinalreportwassubmittedtotheCommissioninDecember2009withintheprojecttimeframeandfollowing9months’work .

Thefinalreportreferredtothefollowingrecommendationswhich,ifimplemented,shouldfacilitatebetterco-operationbetweendefencelawyersworkingoncrossbordercases,andimprovetheirabilityeffectivelytodefendtheirclients:

• improvingaccesstoinformationfordefencelawyersthroughthecreationofanetworkofcontactpointsanddevelopmentofresourcestosupportthenetwork,

• improvingnetworkingbetweendefencelawyers,• improvingaccesstoappropriatetrainingfordefencelawyers .

Therecommendationsinthefinalreportalsoincludeaproposaltousenetworksforthecollectionoffactualinforma-tionabouttheproblemswhichariseincrossbordercriminalcases .Informationcollectionwouldfocusinparticularonfunding issueswhicharecentral tomanyof theproblemswhich lawyersfacewhendealingwithcrossbordercriminalcases .

Factsheets on rights of defendants.

InMay2009,theCommissionpublishedaninvitationforastudytocompilefactsheetsonrightsofdefendants .Thepurposeofthestudyistodrawupnationalfactsheetslistingtherightsavailabletodefendantsintheframeworkofcriminalproceedings,foreachoftheMemberStates .Therightswillbedescribedinplain,unambiguouslanguagewhichcanbeeasilyunderstoodbythelayperson .ThefactsheetswillbemadeavailabletothegeneralpubliconthefutureEuropeane-Justiceportal .Thefactsheetswillbedraf-tedintheofficiallanguage(s)oftherelevantMemberStates .Ameetingwithnationalexperts from the29EU jurisdictionswilltakeplaceon26February inBrussels,andthefactsheetswillbecompletedandsenttotheCommissioninSeptember2010 .

Commission Green Paper on Evidence in criminal matters

InNovember2009,theCommissionadoptedaGreenPaperwithaviewtotakingactiontoimprovecooperationbetweenMemberStatesonobtainingevidenceincriminalmatters .TheCommis-sion intends to replace the existing legal regime on obtainingevidence in criminalmatters by a single instrument based ontheprincipleofmutualrecognitioncoveringalltypesofevidenceandtointroducecommonstandardsforgatheringevidenceincriminalmatters .TheCommissionbelievesthattheexistingrulesonobtainingevidencefromanotherMemberStateconsistofanumberofco-existinginstrumentsbasedondifferentunderlyingprinciplesandscopes,and thismakes theapplicationof the rulesburdensome . Inaddition, theCommissionbelieves that itmaycauseconfusionamongpractitionersandleadtosituationswheretheydonotusethemostappropriateinstrumentfortheevidencesought .TheGreenPapersetouttoconsultMemberStatesandrelevantstakeholdersonthevalidityofthisapproachandonanumberofissuesthatarerelevantinthisrespect .TheCriminalLawCommitteesubmittedaresponsetotheGreenPaperinJanuary2010,andtheCCBEwasrepresentedatahearingorganisedbytheCom-missionon9February2010 .

Link toCCBE response to thegreenPaper: (http://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/EN_Draft_response_Cr1_1264429903 .pdf)

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Procedural safeguards for suspects and defendants in criminal proceedings

TheissueofproceduralsafeguardsforsuspectsanddefendantsincriminalproceedingsisanissuethattheCriminalLawCommitteehasdiscussedandfollowedformanyyears .Currently,therearenoEU-wideminimumsafeguardsforsuspectsanddefendantsincriminalproceedingsdespitethesurgeininstrumentsthathavebeenagreedforthepurposesofprosecution .Forsomeperspectiveonthematter,theMemberStatesagreedinOctober1999that“en-hancedmutualrecognitionofjudicialdecisionsandjudgmentsandthenecessaryapproximationoflegislationwouldfacilitatecooperationbetweenauthoritiesand the judicial protection of individual rights” .In2004,MemberStatesagreedthat:“The further realisation of mutual recognition as the cornerstone of judicial cooperation implies the deve-

lopment of equivalent standards for procedural rights in criminal proceeding, based on the studies of the existing level of safeguards in Member States and with due respect for their legal traditions .”Therefore,10yearshavepassedwithnoconcreteresulttodate .TheCriminalLawCommitteebelievesthattheimbalancewhichcurrentlyexistsattheEuropeanlevelbetweentherightsoftheprosecutionandtherightsofthede-fencethreatenstoundermineconfidenceintheprincipleofmutualrecognition

UndertheSwedishPresidency(thatcametoanendinJuly2009),itwasagreedthatrightswillbeintroducedonebyoneratherthanasapackageofrights–asocalled“stepbystep”approach .Withinthisapproach,thefirstproposedrightthatwasintro-ducedfocussedonlegaltranslationandinterpretation .BeforeChristmas,agreementhadbeen reachedon interpretationand translation followingdiscussions that tookplaceintheCouncilofMinisters .However,withtheintroductionoftheLisbonTreatyinDecember2009,thematterhadtobeintroducedagainasEUco-decisionprocedures

comeintoforce(priortoLisbon,theEuropeanParliamentwas“consulted”onthematter,butwiththeLisbonTreatyinforcetheEuropeanParliamenthasmuchstrongerco-decisionpowers) .TheCCBEisfollowingdevelopmentswithregardtointerpretationandtranslation,andhasanumberofcommentsthatitwillsubmittotheEuropeaninstitutions .TheCommissionistocomeupwithaproposaleachyearforthenext5–6years .Therightsthatwillformthebasisofdiscussionsoverthenextfewyearsareasfollows:

• TranslationandInterpretation• InformationonRightsandInformationabouttheCharges• LegalAdviceandLegalAid• CommunicationwithRelatives,EmployersandConsularAuthorities• SpecialSafeguardsforSuspectedorAccusedPersonswhoareVulnerable

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactPeterMcNamee(mcnamee@ccbe .eu)

Competition

European Parliament breakfast meeting - The Challenge of Assessing the Public Interest in Professional Services Regulation: the lawyers’ viewAtthebeginningofNovember2009,MEPKlaus-HeinerLehne,chairoftheEuropeanPar-liamentLegalAffairsCommittee,hostedaCCBEmeetingbringingtogetherrepresentativesfromtheEuropeaninstitutions,academicsandCCBErepresentativesinordertodiscussthemethodologyofCommissioncompetitionandregulatorystudies .Theexpertspeakers-Mat-thiasKilian(alawyerandacademicfromGermany)andFrankStephen(aneconomistandacademicfromtheUK)-highlightedintheircontributionsthatveryoftenstudiesundertakenbytheEuropeanCommissionlacktimeandthenecessaryfinancialresources .Besides,stu-diesareoftencarriedoutbyinstitutesandconsultancieswhichdonotnecessarilyhavetheexpertiseinagivenfield .DGCompetition–standingbyitsreportsof2004and2005-invitedtheBarsandLawSocietiestolookmoreattheeconomicsideoftheirprofession .

Best practices in antitrust proceedings

On6January2010,theEuropeanCommissionpublishedaconsultationonbestpracticesinantitrustproceedings .TheCommission’sconsultationisoutlinedinthreedocuments,namelyBestPracticesforantitrustproceedings,BestPracticesforthesubmissionofeconomicevidence(bothinantitrustandmergerprocee-dings)andGuidanceontheroleoftheHearingOfficersinthecontextofantitrustproceedings .

MEPKlaus-HeinerLehneChairoftheEuropean

ParliamentLegalAffairsCommittee

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TheCCBE,whichwasurgingtheCommissionbackinDecembertocarryoutapublicconsultationonthesemattersbecausetheCommissionwasnotplanningtodoso(althoughimportantissuessuchasproceduralrightsofpartiesareatstake),willsubmitaresponsetotheconsultationdocumentsinthecomingweeks .Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactSieglindeGamsjaeger(gamsjaeger@ccbe .eu) .

Deontology - England and Wales consultations

Legal Services Board (LSB) consultation on alternative business structures

On25January2010,theCCBErespondedtotheLSBconsultationonalternativebu-sinessstructures,expressingconcernabouthowtheLSBproposalsarebeingtakenforward .IntheCCBE’sviewproperlyconductedresearchintothepossible impactofproposedchangesisvitalbeforeanydecisionsaremadetochangethelegalservicesmarket .Regretfully,theLSBisproposingtointroducearegimewithoutknowingwhattheimpactis,simplybasedontheassumptionthatthesenewbusinessstructureswillbenefitconsumers .TheCCBEalsoreferredinitslatestreplytoitscommentsinres-ponsetotheLSBdiscussionpaperofMay2009 .

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) second consultation on conflict and confidentiality

On21December2009,theSRAlaunchedasecondconsultationwithdraftamendmentstorules3(conflictofin-terest)and4(confidentiality)oftheSolicitors’CodeofConduct2007,towhichtheCCBErespondedattheendofJanuary2010,inlinewiththeCCBE’sreplytothefirstSRAconsultation .MemberBarsandLawSocietiesoftheCCBEhaveexpressedseriousconcernswithregardtotheworkundertakenbytheSRAwhichaimsata)increasingtheexceptionsunderwhichfirmscanactforsophisticatedclientswithconflictinginterestswheretheclientsgivein-formedconsentandb)atextendingthecircumstancesinwhichinformationbarrierscanbeusedwithouttheconsentoftheclient .IntheCCBE’sview,theproposedamendmentswillleadtoaweakeningofethicalstandards .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactSieglindeGamsjaeger(gamsjaeger@ccbe .eu) .

GATS

OECD Services Trade Restriction Index (STRI)

TheOECDisworkingondevelopingaservicestraderestrictionsindexwhichillustratesrestrictionsthatexistwithintheservicessectors(inclu-ding legalservices) . TheGATScommittee is followingdevelopmentsandwouldliketoprovideinputintotheprocessinordertopresentthepositionofthelegalprofession,andinordertoprovidetheOECDwithagreaterunderstandingoftheissuesregardingrestrictionsthatareim-portant to the legalprofession . TheGATSCommitteehadameetingwitharepresentativefromtheOECDandwillprovidesuggestionstoimprovetheindex(asdifferentrestrictionscarryadifferentweightintheOECDscoringindex) .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactPeterMcNamee(mcnamee@ccbe .eu)

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European Contract LawTheCCBEhasbeenactiveintheareaofEuropeanContractLawandadoptedapositiononthedraftConsumerrightsdirective,COM2008(614/3)pleaseseehttp://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/EN_CCBE_position_on_1_1260182031 .pdf and the Draft Common Frame of Reference (please see: http://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/DCFRpdf1_1262861061 .pdf)

Themajorityof theCCBEbelievesthatsuchfullharmonisation,asoutlinedintheProposalforaDirectiveoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilonConsumerRights–COM(2008)614/3(hereinafter“Proposal”)-wouldleadtomorelegalsecurityforconsumers,becausetheycouldrightfullyexpectthesamelevelofprotectioninallEUMemberStates .Legalsecurityasaresultofsuchfullharmonisationwouldleadtoadecreaseincompliancecosts,asenterpriseswillbeentitledtoexpectthesameregulatoryrequirementsabroadasathome .

However,theProposalisseenbytheCouncilofMinistersincloseconjunctionwiththeCommonFrameofReference(pleaseseetheGuidelinesbytheCouncilof4-5June2009http://www .consilium .europa .eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/108356 .pdf)ofwhichtheCCBEapprovesforreasonsofconsistencyandlegalcertaintyofEUlegalinstruments .

InitspositionpaperontheDCFR,theCCBEfocusesonsaleslawandondamages,therebyfurtheroutliningguide-linesforthepoliticaldebate .However,theCCBE–atleastatpresent-doesnotenvisagepresentingathoroughcommentandnewsuggestionsforabodyofsaleslawwithintheframeworkofa(possible)EuropeanContractLaw .Instead,theCCBEratherintendstoformulategeneralguidelineswhilstcommentingindetailonanyproposalofasaleslawassoonasitcomesintoexistence,hopefullyinthenearfuture .

Ingeneral,theCCBEbelievesthattheSalesDirective1999/441,whichhasbeenenactedbytheEUMemberStatesandtheCSIG(ConventiononContractsfortheInternationalSaleofGoods)andwhichisequallyenactedbymostoftheEUMemberStatestogetherwiththevariousnationalrules,isaregimesufficienttoregulatesaleslawatEuro-peanlevel .TheCCBE,however,hasidentifiedcertainareasforrevisionoftheSalesDirectivewithintheFrameworkofEuropeanContractLaw,suchas:conformitywiththecontract,rightsoftheconsumer,timelimits,bindingna-ture,definitionofdeliveryandpassingofrisk .Asregardsmandatory rights inprotectionof the consumer (Art .7),theCCBEsupportstheextension2oftheserightstobusi-nesstobusinesscontracts,aswellasthestandardofthe“weakerparty”providedby theLatePaymentDirectiven°35/2000(art .3(3):“grosslyunfair”or“grossdeviationfromgoodcommercialpractice”) .

Furthermore,theCCBEhasalsotakenintoaccountthepositionof theCommissioner for Justice,FundamentalRightsandCitizenship,VivianeReding, in her presen-tationofthepoliticalperspectiveoftheCommissionontheCFRasapossibleinstrumentforEuropeanContractLaw .TheCommissionerintendstocomplete–withthehelp of academic expertise from across Europe – theworkon thecommon frameof reference in thecourseof2010,andtoincludeitthereafterintoawell-publicisedlegalinstrument .Moreover,shestressedthatsheintendstoworkonthethreefirstbuildingblocksofacoherentEu-ropeancontractlaw,namelystandardtermsandconditions,consumerrightsandcommonprinciplesofcontractlaw,withthepurposeofpavingthewayforonedaydevelopingaEuropeanCivilCode(whichcouldtaketheformeitherofavoluntarytooltoimprovecoherence,orofanoptional28thcontractlawregimeorofamoreambitiousproject) .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactBirgitBeger(beger@ccbe .eu)

1 Directive99/44/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof25May1999oncertainaspectsofthesaleofconsumergoodsandassociatedguarantees .

2 NotsupportedbytheAustriandelegation,exceptoftheextensionofthe“weakerparty”standard .

VivianeRedingCommissionerforJustice,FundamentalRightsandCitizenship

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European Parliament hearing of Commissioner-designate Viviane RedingOn12January2010,theCommissioner-designateforJustice,FundamentalRightsandCitizenship,VivianeReding,wasauditionedjointlybytheCivilLiberties,JusticeandFundamentalRights(LIBE),LegalAffairs(JURI)andWom-en’sRights (FEMM)committeesof theEuropeanParliament . Inheropeningstatement,shedeclaredproceduralsafeguardsincriminalmatters,therightsofvictimsandmoregenerallytheprotectionoffundamentalrightswereherpriorityareas .WiththeentryintoforceoftheLisbonTreatyandthereforeoftheEUCharterofFundamentalRightson1stDecember,therespectoffundamentalrightswillnowcomeundercloserscrutinyatEUlevel,sheadded,flag-gingthattherewillnowbesystematicfundamentalrights-focusedimpactassessmentofeveryCommissioninitiative .QuestionedbyItalianMEPRaffaeleBaldassarre(EPP)onthemutualrecognitionforcross-borderusersoflegalacts,sheconfirmedthatapublicconsultationwouldtakeplaceearlyin2010togettheviewsofthelegalprofessionsinparticular .Unfortunately,inreplytoItalianMEPLuigiBerlinguer(S&D)ontraininginEUlawforalllegalpractitioners,MsRedingremainedunclearastowhethershesupportedtheviewthatlawyersshouldbeputonequalfootingwithjudgesandprosecutorsforaccesstotrainingschemes .TheCCBEwelcomesMsReding’smarkedinterestforprog-ressintheareasoffamilylaw–essentialtoreachouttocitizens,sherightlysaid–andofcontractlaw,announcingherintentiontomakegooduseoftheDraftCommonFrameofReferencepreparedbyacademics .

Formoreinformation,pleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobe@ccbe .eu) .

CCBE Human Rights Award

TheHumanRightsAward2009wasgrantedtoStanislav Markelov,aRussianlawyerassassinatedon19Janu-ary2009inMoscow .StanislavMarkelov,whowasalsoajournalistandthePresidentofthe“RuleofLawInstitute”,dedicatedhiswholeprofessional life to thepromotionofhumanrights inRussia .Despitehisyoungage,hehadoutstandingachievementstohisname,notonlyforthepartiesthathedefendedandassisted,butmoregenerallyforthedevelopmentoftheruleoflawinthewholeRussianFederation .

InreactiontotheassassinationofStanislavMarkelov,theCCBEhadwrittentotheRussiangovernmenturgingittocarryoutanimmediateandimpartialinvestigationintothemurderinordertoidentifythoseresponsibleandbringthembeforeacompetentandimpartialtribunal .TheCCBEalsoaskedthegovernmenttoensurethatallattemptstodiscreditlawyersforthelegitimateexerciseoftheirprofessionaldutiesbepromptlyandeffectivelystopped .

On28November2009,theCCBEPresidentatthetime,AnneBirgitteGammeljord,gaveaspeechattheawardcer-emonywhereshestressedthatStanislavMarkelovhadpaidapricewhichnolawyershouldeverbeaskedtopayindefenceoftheruleoflawandindefendingclients .Thosepresentobservedaminute’ssilenceinmemoryofStanislavMarkelov .ThefulltextofthespeechisavailableontheCCBEwebsite(http://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/EN_speech_ABG_Plenar1_1259594236 .pdf) .

TheCCBEHumanRightsAwardwascreatedin2007inordertohighlighttheworkofalawyerorlawyers’organisa-tionthatbringshonourtothelegalprofessionbydemonstratingoutstandingcommitmentandsacrificeinupholding

StanislavMarkelovCCBEHumanRightsAward2009

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fundamentalvalues .In2008,theAwardwentjointlytoaChineselawyer,LiHeping,andtothegroupofSpanishlawyerswhointervenedinthe11/3Madridbombingtrial .ThefirstAward,in2007,wenttotheorganisationAvocatsSansFrontières(LawyersWithoutBorders) .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactKarineMétayer(metayer@ccbe .eu) .

European Court of Human Rights

Russia’s ratification of Protocol 14

RussiarecentlypassedthedraftlawontheratificationofProtocol14totheEuropeanConventionofHumanRights .ThisvotefinallyallowstheProtocol,whichhasalreadybeenratifiedbythe46otherPartyStates,tocomeintoforce .Protocol14aimsatensuringthelong-termefficiencyoftheCourt,particularlybyoptimisingthewayrequestsarefilteredoutandprocessed .

ThePresidentoftheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights,Jean-PaulCosta,welcomedRussia’s ratification,whichallows thenewpro-cedures tobegeneralised (single judgeandnewpowers for thethree-judges-committees) .

Interlaken Conference

AHighLevelConferenceonthefutureoftheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights,whichwasorganisedbySwitzerlandatInterlakenduringtheSwisspresidencyoftheCommitteeofMinistersoftheCouncilofEurope,tookplaceon18and19Februarythisyear .ThisconferenceaimedtoreiteratethePartyStates’attachmenttotheprotectionofHumanRightsinEuropeandatestablishingaroadmapforthedevelopmentoftheCourt .

TheCCBE,whichwasinvitedtoattendtheConference,wasrepresentedbythePresidentofitsHumanRightsCom-mittee,LaurentPettiti .TheCCBEprovidedcommentsontheDraftDeclarationofInterlaken,whichwascirculatedbytheSwisspresidency .Inparticular,theCCBE’sobservationsstresstheneedtosafeguardtherightofpublicaccesstotheCourt,theneedtostatethereasonsonwhichinadmissibilitydecisionsarebased,theroleoftheBarsatanationallevelandtherefusaltointroduceaseriouspenaltywithregardtoabreachoftheConvention .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactKarineMétayer(metayer@ccbe .eu)

IT Law

E-Justice

Aspreviouslyreported,theCCBEisengagedindiscussionswiththeEuropeanInstitutionsontheEuropeane-Justiceportal .Thee-Justiceportalaimsatusinginformationandcommunicationtechnologies(ICT)torationaliseandsimplifyjudicialprocedures,aswellastoreduceproceduraldeadlinesandoperatingcosts,tothebenefitofcitizens,undertakings,legalpractitionersandtheadmi-nistrationofjustice .Itisenvisagedtoputthee-Justiceon-linestillduringtheSpanishEUpresidency,i .e .beforeendofJune2010 .

TheCCBE,withits2007guidelinesforanelectronicIDcardsystemforlawyers,haspreparedthelegalprofessionfore-identitymanagementtoolswhichwouldhelptheparticipationoflawyerswithinthee-Justiceportal,inparticularasitmightenablesecurecommunicationofsensitivedatawhichisofimportancewithregardtoprofessionalsecrecy(pleasesee:http://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/en_guidelines_framew1_1192450932 .pdf

On21January2010,theEuropeanCommissionpublishedacallforproposalswhich,inter alia,includesaprojectentitledPilotA-buildingoninitiativesinMemberStatesorassociatedcountriesandfocusingondevelopingEU-wide

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interoperabilityofICT-basedsolutions(http://ec .europa .eu/information_society/activities/ict_psp/documents/cip_ict_psp_leaflet_call4 .pdf) .TheCCBEiscurrentlyindiscussionwithEUMemberStatesleadinginthee-Justiceaspectofthisinitiative,inordertoinvolvethelegalprofessioninthepracticalapplicationsofthee-Justiceportalfromanearlystart,andsotoensurethepossibilityofcommunicationamongpractitioners(butalsobetweenpractionersandpublicauthorities,andlastbutnotleastbetweenpractitionersandEuropeancitizens) .

Atthesametime,theCCBEisbuildingupameansforcitizenstoaccessthebars’directoriesoflawyersinthemostuser-friendlyway .

Personal data protection

At the beginning of July 2009, theDirectorateGeneral of Freedom,Secu-rity and Justice of the EuropeanCommission published an invitation for aconsultationonthelegalframeworkforthefundamentalrighttoprotectionofpersonaldata,particularly in theareaof freedom, justiceandsecurity .ThisopenconsultationfollowedtheCommission’sconferenceon19-20May2009entitled:“Personaldata–moreuse,moreprotection?”(WereportedonitinCCBEINFO23) .

Initssubmission,theCCBErespondedtotherequestoftheEuropeanCom-missiontoobtainviewsonthenewchallengesforpersonaldataprotectioninordertomaintainaneffectiveandcomprehensivelegalframeworktoprotectindividualpersonaldatawithintheEU .

Thelegalprofessionsupportsandprofoundlyrespectsthefundamentalrighttoprotectionofpersonaldata,includingtherightofrespectofprivacyandthatofconfidentialityofcommunications .TheCCBEisawareofitsownresponsibilityinthisareaandhaspublishedrecommendationstoitsmembershipregardingbestpracticeindataprotectionwhenmakinguseoftheinternetande-communication(pleaseseetheguidelinesathttp://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/EN_CCBE_Guidance_ele1_1231836053 .pdf) .

Withregardtothefundamentalrighttoprotectionofpersonaldata,theCCBEstressedthattheconfidentialityofthelawyer-clientrelationshipand ingeneralprofessionalsecrecy,aswellastheexerciseof therightof thedefence,shouldberespectedbyanyinitiativetakeninthisfield .FortheCCBE’ssubmission,pleasesee:http://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/EN_CCBE_response_to_1_1262595056 .pdf

Interconnection of business registers

TheCCBEhassubmittedaresponsetotheEuropeanCommission’sconsultationontheinterconnectionofbusinessregisters .TheCCBE approved in principle of the interconnection of business registers, since it is necessary toensuregreater legalcertainty foreconomicandcommercial transactionswithin theEUandEEA,and toprovidelawyerswithaneffectivetooltoinformandadvisetheirclients .However,theCCBEunderlines,inter alia,thatanyfutureinstrumentshouldbespecifictothepeculiarstructureofbusinessregistersintermsofinformationcollectedandauthenticationofitscontentandorigin .Forfulldetails,pleasesee:http://www .ccbe .eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/EN_Livre_vert_Interc1_1265013437 .pdf

Forfurtherquestions,pleasecontactBirgitBeger(beger@ccbe .eu)

Legal aidInthecontextoftheStockholmprogramme,theCCBEadoptedrecommendationswhereitunderlined,amongotherthings,thecrucialimportanceoflegalaid .

TheCCBEsubmittedinparticularthefollowing:

• Importanceoflegalaidforaccesstojustice .TheCCBEsubmittedthattherightofaccesstojusticeisafun-damentalrightandisoftheutmostimportancetotheprotectionofthecitizen’srightsinademocraticsociety .Itrequiresthatalitiganthasrealandeffectiveaccesstothecourtandarealopportunitytopresentthecasehe/sheseekstomake .Itimpliesthatwherethemeansofalitigantdonotallowhim/hertoengagealawyer,therighttoafairhearingguaranteedbytheEuropeanConventiononHumanRightsalsorequiresthathe/shebeprovidedwithlegalaid .Anaturalconsequenceoftheserightsisthatthereshouldbeequalityofarmsbetweenlitigants .

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• Beneficiariesof legal aid .TheCCBEconsiders thataccess to legal aid shouldbeguaranteed toallEUcitizens,butalsotothirdcountrynationalshabituallyresidentinaMemberState,asrecommendedbytheHagueConventionof1980onInternationalAccesstoJustice(extensionofthe“nondiscriminationprinciple”) .

• InvolvementoftheEU .TheCCBEcallsupontheCommissiontoensurecommondevelopmentsofEuropeanlegalaidschemesbothnationallyandincrossbordermattersforbeneficiariesasdefinedabove .

However, theStockholmProgramme,adoptedbytheEUCouncilon11December2009,doesnotrecognisetheimportanceoflegalaidasanessentialelementofaccesstojustice,particularlyincross-bordercases .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactKarineMétayer(metayer@ccbe .eu) .

Money laundering

European Commission study on the impact of the money laundering Directives on the legal profession.

InJuly2009,theCommission(DGInternalMarket)launchedatenderforastudyontheimpactofthemoneylaun-deringDirectiveswithaspecialemphasisonthelegalprofession .ThestudywillbecarriedoutinresponsetoArticle42ofthe2005MoneyLaunderingDirective .Article42states:“By 15 December 2009, and at least at three-yearly intervals thereafter, the Commission shall draw up a report on the implementation of this Directive and submit it to the European Parliament and the Council. For the first such report, the Commission shall include a specific examination of the treatment of lawyers and other independent legal professionals.”

InNovember,theCommissionawardedthestudytothesuccessfultenderer-Deloitte(Consortium) .ThewinningtendererhasstartedtoworkonthestudyandtheCCBEunderstandsthatDeloitte(Consortium)willbeincontactwiththeCCBEanditsmemberBarswithregardtothelegalprofessionaspectofthestudy .

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) - Recommendation 9 of the FATF 40 Recommendations

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactPeterMcNamee(mcnamee@ccbe .eu)

PECO

Bosnia and Herzegovina

On28November2009,theCCBEPlenarySessionapprovedunanimouslytheapplicationsoftheBarAssociationoftheFederationofBosniaandHerzego-vinaand theBarAssociationofRepublikaSrpska forCCBEobservermem-bership .

TheCCBEiscooperatingwiththeInternationalBarAs-sociationandtheAmericanBarAssociationwithregardto Recommendation 9 of the FATF 40 Recommenda-tions . Recommendation 9 allows countries to permitfinancial institutions andothers (including lawyers)torelyonintermediariesorother third parties to per-form the identificationandverification requirementsof the customer due dili-gence(CDD)processortointroducebusiness,providedthatcertaincriteriaaremet .However,evenwheresuchrelianceispermitted,theultimateresponsibilityforcus-tomeridentificationandverificationremainswiththeper-

sonrelyingonthethirdparty .DuringameetingwiththeFATFon11June2009,theprivatesectorsuggestedthattheRecommendationshouldberevisedsothatitdidnotimposeultimateresponsibilityonapersonwhorelieson

athirdparty,providedthatin all the circumstancesthe reliance was reaso-nable .TheFATFsentoutaconsultationpaperon23September 2009, and theCCBE, IBA and the ABA

submitted amemorandum on 5 November setting outwhy the ultimate responsibility requirement should berevised .TheFATFiscurrentlyanalysingthecommentsreceived .

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Moldova

DraftamendmentstotheLawontheBarhavebeenapprovedrecentlybytheMoldovanGovern-mentandremittedtoParliamentforexamination .OneoftheproposedamendmentsrelatestotheappointmentofaSecretaryGeneraltotheBarAssociation,whichisalsooneoftheCCBEexperts’recommendationstotheMoldovanBarofSeptember2008 .TheSecretaryGeneralshallmanageandfacilitatetheday-to-dayadministrationoftheBarAssociation .TheBarCouncilwillalsodiscussthismatteratameetinginspring .TheCCBEwillcontinuemonitoringverycloselythedevelopmentswithintheMoldovanBarAssociationandtheimplementationoftheCCBEre-commendations .

Ukraine

TheCCBEhasreceivedon21January2010anofficialrequestbyMPPortnovtocarryoutanexpertappraisalofthedraftlawontheBarsubmittedbyhimandsomeotherMPsoftheUkrainianParliament,andtoprovideacomparativeanalysisofthatdraftandthedraftsubmittedbyMPMiroshnichenkoandotherMPs .(Note:LastJuly,SergeyMishchenko,headoftheUkrainianParliamentCommitteeonLegalPolicy,addressedtheCCBEwitharequestforexpertiseofthedraftlawontheBarpreparedbyMPMiroshnichenko .TheCCBEisintheprocessoffinalisingitsexpertisewhichwillbemadepubliclyavailableinthecomingweeks .)Atitsmeetingon22January2010,thePECOCommitteedecidedtorespondpositivelytotherequestofMPPortnov .

TheCCBEwillalsofollowcloselytheUkrainianpresidentialelectionsinFebruaryandtheirimpactonthediscussionsonthelawontheBar .

Fiscal cash registers: Serbia and FYROM

Serbia

In continuation of its support to theSerbianBarAs-sociation, theCCBEsenta letter to thePresidentofSerbia last December drawing his attention to theproblemsraisedbytheproposedintroductionoffiscal

cashregistersforlawyersandinvitinghimtoameetinginordertodiscusstheissuesatstake(suchastheriskofunderminingtheprincipleoflawyer’sconfidentiality) .ThePresidentoftheCCBE,José-MaríaDavó-Fernández,andthePresidentoftheUIA,CorradoDeMartini,metwithrepresentativesoftheSerbianauthorities(i .e .thetheStateSecretaryofTradeandServices,theStateSecretaryofJusticeandtheJusticeCommitteeoftheSerbianParliament)on1February2010inBelgrade .Themeetingsweresuccessful:theCCBEandUIAPresidentwereabletoexplainthefiscalsystemsoflawyersinEurope;thatnosuchfiscalcashregistersexistelsewhereinEurope;andthatdueregardshouldbegiventothefactthatthelawyers’professionisapublicinterestprofession .ItseemsthatSerbianauthoritieswillnowdelaytheapplicationoffiscalcashregisterstolawyersinordertocarryoutin-depthresearchconcerningtheissuesputforward .

FYROM

On2December2009,theCCBEreceivedaletterfromthePresidentoftheFY-ROMBarAssociationaskingtheCCBEforassistanceregardingrecentattemptsoftheauthoritiestointroducefiscalcashregistersforlawyersinFYROM .TheproblemsandissuesaresimilartotheonesinSerbia:independence,effectivefunctioningoftheBarandconfidentiality(seeabove) .TheCCBEisinthepro-cessofgatheringdetailedinformationaboutthedevelopmentsinFYROMsothatitcanrespondtotherequestinduecourse .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactSieglindeGamsjaeger(gamsjaeger@ccbe .eu) .

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Stockholm ProgrammeOn11December2009,theEUCounciladoptedtheso-calledStockholmProgramme,presentingprioritiesforthenextfiveyearsintheareaoffreedom,securityandjustice .TheCCBErecommendationsarelargelyreflected,butnotentirely .Tonametworeasonsforsatisfaction,thereisaclearintentiontorestoreabalancebetweensecurityandfundamentalrights,namelywitharoadmaponproceduralrightsincriminalprocedures,afteryearsofcriminallawlegislationwhichwasessentiallytothebenefitoftheprosecution;andintheareaofcivillaw,theobjectiveofabolish-ingallformalitiesforthelegalisationofdocumentsbetweenEUcountries–asignificantaspectofthewilltodevelopmutualrecognition–isnotlimitedtoauthenticacts .Onthenegativeside,however,theprogrammefallsshortoftheneedsoflawyerstobetrainedinEUlawandtoputthemonanequalfootingwithjudgesandprosecutorsinthisre-gard .Moreover,theimportanceoflegalaidasanessentialelementofaccesstojustice,particularlyincross-bordercases,isnotrecognised .TheCCBEwillmonitorwithgreatinterestthepreparationbytheCommissionoftheActionPlanfortheimplementationoftheStockholmProgramme,tobesubmittedtotheCouncilwithinthefirsthalfof2010 .

Formoreinformation,pleasecontactAntoineFobe(fobe@ccbe .eu) .

TrainingOn10December2009, theEuropeanCourt of Justicedelivered itsdecision in thecaseKrzystof Peśla v Justizministerium Mecklenburg-Vorpommern(C-345/08) .KrzystofPeśla,aPolishnational,appliedforaccesstoalegaltraineeshipinGermany .HehadobtainedaMas-ter’sdegreeinLawfromaPolishUniversityandaBachelor/Master’sdegreeofGermanandPolishLawfromaGermanUniversity .Germanlawrequiredhimtoundertakeanaptitudetestwhichherefusedwithreferencetohisknowledgeandcompetencesalreadyobtained .TheCourtheldthat,intheabsenceofharmonisationatEuropeanUnionleveloftheconditionsofaccesstolegaltraineeships,theMemberStatesareentitledtolaydowntheknowledgeandqualificationsrequired:accesstoalegaltraineeshipinaMemberStatemaybemadeconditionalonabroadandin-depthknowledgeofnationallaw .TheCourtalsofoundthat,

althoughCommunitylawrequiresthatthequalificationsandtheexperienceofacandidatewhoobtainedhis/herdi-plomainanotherMemberStatebefullytakenintoaccount,itdoesnotrequirethatthelevelofknowledgeofnationallawrequiredbeloweredforsuchacandidate .

Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactSieglindeGamsjaeger(gamsjaeger@ccbe .eu) .