Linguistic assistance to citizens on trial

A Dutch citizen gets involved in a car accident in Greece, an English football fan is arrested in Italy. For both of them to have a fair trial, they need to understand the charges and the evidence brought against them. This will now be guaranteed by the Council's adoption on 7 October of a directive as the first in a series of measures protecting the rights of persons suspected and accused of criminal offences.

© Kurt Tutschek, Fotolia

Individuals cannot exercise their defence rights, unless they understand the language used during police questioning and court hearings, have a full translation of all essential documents and can communicate with their lawyer. The directive will ensure that defendants are informed of and can exercise their legal rights from the moment they face a criminal charge in an EU country as well as communicate in a language they understand.

The service is free of charge for the defendant, as translation and interpretation costs will be met by member states, irrespective of the final court ruling.

The directive sets common minimum standards for procedural rights in criminal proceedings throughout the EU, guaranteeing the respect of citizens' fundamental rights. It also serves to build trust between authorities in different member states who cooperate in criminal matters, including extradition and the European Arrest Warrant.

More information:
Press release 
Public debate 
Protecting defendants' rights across the EU